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Council approves FAA entitlement transfer as airport project nears completion
Summary
The Rock Springs City Council unanimously approved an agreement to accept Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) entitlement funds transferred from two Wyoming airports, while airport staff reported the terminal project is fully funded, on schedule for occupant move-in in August and showing strong passenger and revenue trends.
The Rock Springs City Council on June 3 unanimously approved a resolution accepting an FAA entitlement transfer agreement that staff said will support the city's nearly finished airport terminal project and ongoing capital needs.
Devin, airport staff member, told the council the FAA allocates two types of funding through the Airport and Airway Trust Fund'apportionment and discretionary funds'and that Rock Springs receives an annual apportionment of $1,300,000. "Last year we obviously needed additional funding for our terminal," Devin said, explaining the FAA allowed unused apportionment funds from Sheridan and Laramie to be administratively reallocated to Rock Springs for fiscal year 2024.
The transfer approved by the council was the formal acceptance required because the city, the county and the airport board are all named sponsors on FAA grants. Councilor Demas moved to approve the resolution, Councilor Thompson seconded, and the motion carried unanimously, the record shows.
Why it matters: Devin said the terminal project is now "more than fully funded" after an additional $2,540,000 in matching funds from the governor (identified in the presentation as IDGA matching dollars), allowing upgrades such as full pavement replacement of the parking lot and technology packages intended to increase future revenue. The presenter gave the current total project cost as $43,327,450 and said the local share funded by city and county taxpayers is $1,250,000 (2.9% of the total). He also said more than $27 million of the project funding comes from the FAA.
Details from the presentation: Devin reported a 0-discrepancy FAA inspection, favorable rental-car and fuel supplier agreements, and a cell-phone tower lease expected to generate $1,300,000 in revenue over the next 40 years. He said litigation tied to construction and to PETA has concluded and that the airport did not pay PETA directly; instead, the insurance carrier paid legal costs. He also reported rising fuel sales, projecting a record for jet fuel in the fiscal year and a roughly five-year high for Avgas.
On schedule and capacity: The presenter said contractual substantial completion for the terminal is August, with move-in planned then and final ("bridal") completion expected Oct. 2 after site work and removal of temporary buildings. He linked the terminal improvements to long-term air-service prospects, noting industry trends that major carriers have shifted away from 50-seat regional aircraft and that airport infrastructure must support larger planes to preserve or attract service. He said state programs that help purchase airline capacity are under fiscal pressure: the capacity purchase agreement program was funded by the legislature in 2018 at $15 million for an intended 10-year term but, per the presentation, is now projected to run out after seven years, leaving a funding gap staff said they will pursue with legislators and state partners.
Other operational notes: Devin provided details on airport staff tenure (average seniority 15.2 years, range 7'21), hangar and revenue-generation planning, a recent purchase of a used fire truck for $100,000 to extend capital replacement timelines, and growth at the local flight school, West Wyoming Aviation. Staff said they have finished negotiations on a new four-year SkyWest agreement and will return to the council with contract documents.
What the council did: The council approved Resolution 2025-67, "accepting and approving an agreement for transfer of entitlements between the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration and the City of Rock Springs," and authorized city officials to execute the agreement. The resolution vote was recorded as carrying unanimously.
Looking ahead: Staff said they will present contract documents for the airline agreement and that the airport board and staff will continue work on federal and state funding packages to support air service. Devin also asked for volunteers for an upcoming aviation event tied to the Air Race Classic; Mayor Max Mickelson and other council members indicated support.
Quotes in this article are attributed only to speakers listed in the meeting record and transcript.
