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Augusta commission authorizes mayor to sign FAA grants for terminal and infrastructure work
Summary
The Augusta Commission approved a motion allowing the mayor to execute two federal aviation grants — about $4 million for a terminal checkpoint expansion and roughly $1 million in an airport infrastructure entitlement — after staff said the awards had to be signed quickly to meet FAA deadlines.
The Augusta Commission on a special-call vote authorized Mayor Garnett Johnson to execute two Federal Aviation Administration grants to pay for an airport terminal checkpoint expansion.
The action came after staff told the commission the airport had won a competitive airport terminal grant of about $4,000,000 and was also eligible for an airport infrastructure grant “a little bit over $1,000,000,” both derived from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Staff said the grants were held up while the federal administration reviewed award packages earlier this year and that the FAA required fully executed documents by the end of the month, prompting the expedited request.
The approval was made by motion of Commissioner Francine Scott, seconded by Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice, and carried at the special meeting. Scott moved that the mayor be authorized to “fully execute the Federal Aviation Airport terminal program grant” and related offers; Rice seconded. Staff said the grants will fund adding two lanes in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security area as part of a checkpoint/terminal expansion.
Staff said they could bring final contract documents and related paperwork back to the full commission “after the fact” if commissioners wanted a later review. The motion carried; minutes show some members were temporarily out of the chamber during the vote.
The commission’s authorization gives the mayor authority to sign the FAA offer letters so the awards can be returned to the FAA within the requested timeline. Staff emphasized the expedited schedule was driven by federal timing, not local readiness to proceed.
Commissioners who asked questions were told the larger grant is a competitive terminal grant awarded last year and the smaller infrastructure grant is a multi-year entitlement tied to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Staff also said they would present final executed documents and implementation details in a future commission meeting.
The vote authorizes the mayor to execute grant offers and signals the city’s intention to use the funds for the TSA checkpoint expansion; next steps are contract execution and project scheduling.
