Atchison authorizes $266,200 consultant agreement for airport apron and taxi‑lane rehabilitation

The Atchison City Commission authorized staff to execute a consultant agreement with Lochner for design and construction services on the airport apron and taxi‑lane rehabilitation project, with a contract value of $266,200.

Public Works Director Clinton McNamee presented the agreement and said the work would be largely funded by FAA grant money provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. McNamee said roughly 95% of the agreement would be covered by FAA funding and that the city would apply to a state program (the Build Kansas fund) that funds 95% of the local match. Together, he said, the combination would reduce the city's net cost to about 5% of 5% of the total project cost—"less than $700"—if both grants are awarded and accepted.

Commissioners asked whether the authorization was contingent on receiving grants; McNamee said the consultant authorization would be tied to submitting the FAA and Build Kansas funding applications and that the city does not anticipate difficulty securing those funds. He also said the agreement includes design and construction inspection services and that staff will try to coordinate the rehabilitation with a planned apron expansion to gain efficiencies.

A motion to authorize staff to execute the consultant agreement and to submit funding applications to the FAA and Build Kansas fund was moved and seconded and passed on a voice vote with all members saying "aye." The motion recorded that, when combined, the grants would fund 99.75% of the contract amount.

Why it matters: the project repairs airport pavement and supports an apron expansion; federal and state grant participation greatly reduces the city's local cost, but grant awards and compliance will determine final financial obligations.

Implementation notes: staff will submit the required grant applications and proceed with design and bidding phases contingent on grant approvals.