Newton‑Harvey airport to bid 08/26 reconstruction; commissioners approve plans and seek state backup grant

Ryan Palmer, Aviation Director for Newton City‑County Airport, and Jeff Lewis, Airport Operations Manager, briefed the Harvey County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 11 on plans to reconstruct runway 08/26 and the operational effects if the intersecting runway threshold is displaced during work.

Palmer said the Federal Aviation Administration advised the airport to proceed and that airport improvement grants are funded from user fees (the airport improvement fund), not the federal general fund. The airport’s consultant provided cost estimates and operational scenarios: a displaced threshold at the intersecting point would reduce usable runway length and eliminate the airport’s instrument approaches for the affected period, restricting operations in poor weather and limiting larger corporate jets.

Palmer described operational tradeoffs discussed with tenants and consultants. He said the contractor‑work window for the restricted configuration was reduced in planning from 35 days to an anticipated 30 calendar days, and that airport staff estimate the runway would be unavailable for active use on roughly 12 to 18 days depending on conditions. He told commissioners the airport could lose approximately 3,000 feet of available runway while temporary markings and lighting are in place, with the usable length dropping from about 7,002 feet to roughly 4,000 feet for some configurations.

Palmer said additional temporary safety work — lighting changes, temporary markings and other measures — would be an estimated local cost of about $220,000 to $295,000 and would not be covered by the FAA grant; those mitigation costs would be the city and county’s responsibility if the county chooses to displace the threshold so the contractor can complete the 08/26 work.

After discussion, the commission approved three motions moved and seconded during the meeting: to approve plans and specifications for the 08/26 reconstruction (subject to FAA approvals), to advertise for bids for the project with a bid opening scheduled for March 11, 2025 at 11:00 a.m., and to authorize city staff to submit a Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP) grant application for the electrical scope as a possible state backup for cost overrun on the electrical work.

Palmer said contractors will bid the project and electrical work separately; if final bids exceed the FAA budget the KAIP grant would be a potential source to cover the electrical scope. Commissioners emphasized safety and noted the closure would be temporary; airport staff said they will press contractors to complete work promptly and that weather remains the key schedule uncertainty.

Ending — Commissioners approved the three actions and asked staff to proceed to bid and to seek the KAIP grant as backup funding if needed.