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Committee approves bill to streamline state grant acceptance for Lambert airport operations
Summary
The committee advanced Board Bill 17, which authorizes the airport to accept state grants more quickly without separate board bills for each award. Airport staff said faster acceptance would speed projects such as marketing tied to aviation fuel tax grants.
The Transportation and Commerce Committee on Oct. 11 advanced Board Bill 17, an ordinance to streamline how St. Louis Lambert International Airport accepts and administers state grants.
Antonio Strohond, deputy director of finance and administration for the airport, told the committee current practice requires a separate board bill for each state grant, a process that can delay funds by two to three months. Strohond said that delay caused the airport to wait three or four months to draw down a recent aviation-fuel-tax grant of about $600,000–$700,000 intended for airport marketing.
“This ordinance would streamline that process so that we can receive those grant funds immediately,” Strohond said, explaining that state grant sources include the Missouri Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) Aviation Trust Fund and related state agencies. Rob Salarano, property manager for the airport, joined the presentation remotely.
Aldermen asked that the airport keep the committee informed when grants are accepted and to share grant conditions or restrictions. Alderman Schweitzer asked specifically whether grant conditions could include restrictions such as programmatic requirements related to diversity, equity and inclusion; Strohond and Salarano said the airport would provide details and follow established transparency practices.
The committee voted to advance Board Bill 17 with a due-pass recommendation; the bill passed out of committee by unanimous consent on a previous roll.
What’s next: The bill proceeds to the full Board of Aldermen. Airport staff committed to provide notice to the committee when grants are accepted and to work with aldermen on communication about award terms.
