Harvey County commissioners on July 8 approved a KDOT aviation grant and authorized Newton City staff to execute construction and engineering contracts for the Newton City-County Airport runway reconstruction project.

Brian Palmer, aviation director at Newton City-County Airport, said the county and city awarded construction to Donlinger Construction and requested a KDOT aviation grant to fund the electrical portion. He told commissioners the electrical work bid at $448,024, lower than the original $671,000 grant request; the smaller award will reduce the local match. "We applied for a state grant through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program...they did come back with that and approved that," Palmer said.

Commissioners voted to sign the KDOT grant and then approved a motion allowing Newton City staff to execute the Donlinger construction contract and HNTB task order number 3 on behalf of the county. HNTB will provide full‑time on‑site construction inspection services and handle contract closeout paperwork required by the FAA and state aviation division. The motions passed by voice vote.

Contract terms discussed include a runway closure window for the critical Phase 1B segment. Palmer said the bid documents specify a 30‑day closure for that phase while a separate contract reference lists 35 calendar days; county counsel confirmed the contract incorporates the bid documents by reference and that liquidated damages apply. Article 6 of the construction document includes a liquidated damages clause of $2,000 per calendar day, read aloud during the meeting.

Palmer also reported federal funding activity: the county received an IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) grant for the project, approximately $1,460,000, and is awaiting the FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant, anticipated in late June to mid‑July. He said the Build Kansas Fund has covered the local match for the IIJA award, so no local 10% match will be required for that piece.

Commissioners asked airport staff to notify hangar tenants in advance of the planned closure window once exact dates are set at the preconstruction meeting. City staff requested authority to sign the Donlinger contract before the bid‑price hold deadline; the commission granted that authority. No formal vote tally was recorded beyond the commission's voice vote.