Airport fund grows after BlueRock sale; grants support hangars, fuel farm and taxiway work, land acquisition budgeted as opportunity fund

Brandy (staff member and budget presenter) told the commission the airport fund is showing strong cash following a $2.6 million BlueRock sale and that the fund's reserve is approximately $370,000. She emphasized intergovernmental revenue in the airport fund represents grant funding for ongoing projects.

Staff listed capital projects: corporate hangars (out to bid next month), a fuel farm (to DRC next month) and Veterans Road infrastructure construction (out to bid). Taxiway Delta A1–A3 construction is ready to move once a grant is received; staff said a contractor is already selected. Brandy noted much of the airport capital program is grant-funded so it uses less local cash.

For FY26 staff included a small capital list that includes a roof replacement for Sun Air Aviation Flight School, wildlife fence work, taxiway rehabilitation engineering, and a line item described as "land acquisition" to allow staff to purchase property if opportunistic parcels become available near Runway 13 (possible curb cut access from U.S. 441). Brandy said options include private condo-association parcels or other private landowners that have previously been on the market; she cautioned price expectations may be high but said staff wanted authority to act if a reasonable parcel becomes available.

No formal land purchase was authorized at the workshop; the item is a budgeted placeholder to allow staff to consider acquisitions if appropriate.