The Springdale Airport Commission voted July 19 to split the cost of a proposed strategic plan, approving a 50% contribution of about $197,000 so the city and the commission would each cover roughly $98,500.
Commissioners said the study — described by city staff as a strategic economic-development plan rather than a full FAA master plan — is intended to guide decisions around a potential National Guard presence and other airport growth.
The plan’s backers said stakeholder meetings would include commission members and other airport users, and that the study would help the commission and city present a unified plan when seeking grants or council support. “In the proposal ... it talks about the stakeholder meetings and obviously some of the greatest stakeholders in this would be the airport commission,” Colby said. “The commission is expected to be involved.”
Commissioners who opposed using commission funds said the commission’s budget is smaller than the city’s and that retaining available commission funds could help match future grants or purchase property. “Our budget is a lot smaller than what the city is and the 100,000 as a percent of our budget is a larger proportion than 200,000 as a percent of the city's budget,” one commissioner said.
The commission attached conditions to the decision: commissioners and staff pressed for fast answers on whether planned bond-funded street work that includes utility upgrades will supply sufficient water for hangar development. City staff said the Powell hangar project will upgrade a 6-inch water line to 8-inch in the Powell area and that staff will run hydraulic models to estimate flows for future hangars; they also said additional waterline work from Powell to the airport tower might qualify for state funding but likely would require local match money.
Commissioners asked staff to return data about utilities at or before the next commission meeting and recommended coordinating with the city council to ensure the bond-funded road project supports airport utility needs. Colby said the mayor requested the commission share the cost, and staff said the study is a pared-down strategic plan focused on economic development components the FAA typically does not fund.
The commission’s decision will be forwarded to the city council for inclusion on the council’s committee agenda.