Airport authority requests $79,005.91, cites runway lighting capital project and McDougal Road closure

The Lincoln County Airport Authority asked the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for $79,005.91 in city funding for fiscal year needs, an increase of $46,622 over last year, citing a multi-year capital project and recurring operating requirements.

Dan Holt, speaking for the airport board, said the authority expects to cover most of the runway lighting upgrade through federal funds but must provide a local match. “The federal government is covering 95% of it. We have to cover 5 between the city and the county,” Holt said. He described the project as years in the making and said the airport will also close McDougal Road to meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) clearance requirements.

Holt told aldermen the timing and bidding process have made costs higher than in earlier estimates: “The bids that came back and the cost of materials…are astronomical,” he said, and referenced a design cost roughly “a hundred and 17 or $18,000” for runway lighting design.

In addition to the capital work, the airport requested funds for accounting help after board turnover and for insurance and maintenance of a proposed courtesy car to provide visiting pilots with local transportation. Holt said many airports provide a courtesy vehicle and the authority would welcome a donated retired city or county vehicle, but said it included a maintenance and insurance line in its request if one must be purchased.

Holt emphasized that the authority is a voluntary board that manages the field with limited city or county staff involvement and praised volunteers who maintain the airport website and operations. Board and aldermen discussion touched on brief operational questions — including whether the airport tracks daily usage — and staff said a tracking system is planned to log arrivals and departures.

No formal vote occurred at the work session. Holt’s request will be reviewed in the city’s budget process.