County staff told commissioners during the July 2 study session that Miami County has been awarded a $765,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation aviation division through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program and will provide a $85,000 match for an $850,000 project to replace deteriorated asphalt at the county airport.

“The money’s $765,000 from the state and $85,000, the 10% match from ourselves for the $850,000 project would be utilized to redo all of the asphalt on the west side of the hangar complex,” a county staff member said. The staff member added that the asphalt will be removed entirely rather than milled and will address taxi lanes and adjacent apron areas shown in a diagram provided to commissioners.

Staff said the agreement requires the chairman’s signature and includes routine federally required declarations for FAA-related funding. The project is expected to occur next summer. County staff noted the project, together with prior federal ARPA money used for other airport pavement work, will substantially improve the airport’s pavement condition; recent work included runway seal coat, crack sealing and restriping.

A commissioner characterized the grant as addressing a “huge need” that likely would not have been affordable without KDOT funding. A separate speaker noted that prior gubernatorial support for local airports aided state funding decisions.

No formal vote was recorded in the study session; staff indicated the agreement will be routed for the chairman’s signature and placed on a future agenda as needed for formal action.

Key details: state grant $765,000, county 10% match $85,000, total project $850,000, full asphalt removal (not milling), expected construction next summer, agreement requires chairman signature.