Miami County commissioners on June 2 authorized county staff to sign an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportations aviation division under the Kansas Airport Improvement Program for an $850,000 asphalt rehabilitation project at Miami County Airport.

A county staff member told the commission the award will fund rehabilitation of taxi lanes and hangar ramps on the west side of the airport complex, where commercial businesses are located. "Miami County was awarded an $850,000 grant to facilitate the asphalt project for the taxi lanes and the hangar ramps on the west side of the airport complex," the staff member said. The state portion of the grant is $765,000; the county will provide a local contribution of $85,000.

County staff said work is anticipated to occur about a year from now and that Olson, the airport consultant, will facilitate the project as it has for FAA projects. The staff member said the county will use entitlement funding and proceeds from an existing "bill grant" to address remaining asphalt on the east side of the hangar complex after the west-side work is complete. Staff described this KDOT award as the first at this level in roughly 25 years.

Chairman George Pratt moved to authorize staff to sign the agreement; Commissioner Dideker seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

County staff did not specify the exact timing of contractors' mobilization, the source or legal name of the "bill grant," or further project milestones during the meeting. The commission did not amend the award conditions or change the stated local match amount during the vote.