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Airport director warns of SkyBoss cost overrun; commissioners debate use of previously allocated $300,000
Summary
Airport staff said the SkyBoss project faces a roughly $1 million overage and outlined other airport capital needs (PAPI lights, aircraft fuel and hangar repairs); commissioners debated whether prior city-authorized funds earmarked for airport projects should be used to offset SkyBoss cost increases.
Ryan (airport staff) briefed commissioners on airport capital needs and a developing overage for the SkyBoss economic-development project during the workshop. He reported continuing work on runway‑lighting upgrades, hangar roof repairs, additional security cameras, and a new airport sign; staff said a preliminary estimate for modernizing a pump station tied to sewer work is about $4.1 million (engineer estimate) and discussed multiple funding sources, including a $1.3 million grant.
SkyBoss overage debate: staff told commissioners that previously authorized transfers and allocations left roughly $300,000 associated with airport projects; the SkyBoss project is now projecting about a $1 million overrun. City staff explained a staff recommendation to prioritize SkyBoss and use remaining allocations to reduce the general‑fund impact of the overage. Several commissioners objected to applying the previously identified airport‑project funds to the SkyBoss cost overage and asked staff to honor earlier project allocations unless the commission explicitly reallocated funds.
Why it matters: SkyBoss is a major, multi-year economic-development project tied to the airport’s future. Staff said they are still working to firm the final SkyBoss overage number and that they will present a funding recommendation, including bond or savings options, once the final estimate is ready.
Other airport items discussed: taxiway milling/repaving for the North Taxiway area (estimated $50–60k) that the city maintains, continuing installation of solar runway lights (14 of about 68 installed so far), and airport tenant hangar roof repairs. Staff said earlier airport allocations had paid for some items (wind sock/fuel kiosk work and a small set of purchases) and that no final decision was made on moving money at the workshop.
Ending: Commissioners asked staff to return with a final SkyBoss cost estimate, a proposed funding plan (savings, bond, or otherwise), and a reconciled list of airport projects previously approved with the remaining local allocation.
