Boonville council and airport board discuss banking MoDOT funds for taxiway project, confirm two pilots to board

The Boonville City Council received an airport-board report on March 17 that staff and board members said outlines taxiway improvements slated to start this year and describes how the city banks annual MoDOT aviation allocations for larger projects.

A representative summarized a December meeting that included a presentation from the Lochner Group outlining a timeline for taxiway work in 2025, weather permitting. Council members discussed an annual MoDOT allocation that was cited during the meeting as "a hundred and fifty thousand dollars" (the exact annual amount reported in the packet and by speakers may vary depending on state and federal budgets and was described in the meeting as dependent on MoDOT and FAA allocations). Presentation and council discussion noted the city typically banks those aviation allocations until a major project—such as taxiway reconstruction or runway work—requires the funds; banking the funds enables a larger project to qualify for a 90/10 match on some grants, staff said.

Councilors approved appointments of Ken Brownfield and Ross Norbury to the airport board. The council liaison recommended both appointees as pilots and active airport users. Staff said taxiway construction is planned to commence in 2025 pending bids and weather.

Councilors also discussed the airport master planning process and next steps once critical pavement needs are addressed, including potential hangar construction, runway extension or land purchase. Staff emphasized MoDOT and FAA priorities: the city must address critical pavement deficiencies before moving on to growth projects, and state/federal funding availability will influence timing and scope.

Quotes in this article are attributed to airport board reporting and staff during the March 17 meeting.