Council authorizes tax notes and awards contract to advance taxiway and hangar development at San Angelo Regional Airport

The City Council on July 15 approved issuing 2025 tax notes totaling $1,062,000, plus a $300,000 draw from the airport fund balance, to finance taxiway improvements at San Angelo Regional Airport intended to support future hangar construction. Council also awarded a $4.4 million contract to Hoare Construction to build the South Hangar Access Taxi Lane, a project the airport director said has been rebid multiple times over the past two decades.

Finance Director Tina Dierski told council the short‑term tax notes will be funded from available fund balance and the debt service fund; $300,000 additional airport funds will bring the project total to about $1.3 million for the taxiway portion not eligible for FAA funding. Airport Director Justin Fletcher said the taxiway segment funded by FAA AIP will cover a 35‑foot minimum taxiway width eligible for federal funding; the additional 75‑foot pavement width in Schedule 2 is not FAA‑eligible and requires local funding to expand pavement width and site work that provides safer object‑free area and readies shovel‑ready parcels for hangar development.

Fletcher said Hoare Construction was the low bidder for the South Hangar Access Taxi Lane at $4,400,000. The project uses FAA AIP funding (AIP No. 3‑48‑0191‑051‑2025) and a local match that includes $1,000,000 committed by the city and $300,000 from airport fund balance. Fletcher said completing the wider pavement and associated drainage and site work would create development pads sufficient for up to 16 box hangars plus additional tee hangars (a development scenario that could accommodate about 32 aircraft depending on aircraft size). He told council the airport maintains a waiting list — 12 for box hangars and 29 for tee hangars — and that expanded pavement will help market the airport for developers and potential military or DPS use.

Why it matters: The combined actions clear funding and a construction contract for airfield infrastructure intended to expand hangar availability and the airport’s ability to attract aviation business. Council members emphasized local economic benefit and asked staff to maximize use of local subcontractors.

Votes and motions: Council authorized the tax notes (motion: first from Karen; second from Mary; vote: 7‑0) and awarded the South Hangar Access Taxi Lane contract to Hoare Construction (motion: first by Tommy; second by Harry; vote: 7‑0). The council previously approved committing $1,000,000 in local match funds for the larger airport project.

Implementation and next steps: Fletcher said the project will follow FAA and TxDOT specifications; the FAA issued a modification allowing a TxDOT asphalt mix that staff said widened the pool of local bidders. When completed, the project will produce paved parcels and improved taxiway safety features; Fletcher said airport staff will work with the airport advisory board to set competitive land lease rates and negotiation terms for third‑party hangar developers. Councilors asked staff to encourage local subcontractor participation in construction.