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Airport contractor finds more runway damage; county applies to KDOT for uncovered repairs; two airport commission members resign
Summary
Olsen's survey found additional runway panel damage beyond the FAA project scope; the county applied for a KDOT grant to cover areas not eligible for FAA funding and was given preliminary cost estimates and county shares; two airport commission members resigned, and commissioners directed staff to advertise the openings.
County staff reported that Olsen's (the contractor) found more damage on the airport runway than shown in earlier surveys. The FAA-funded project covers a portion of the runway (shown in meeting materials as an "orange" area); other damaged panels (shown as "green" in the materials) are outside the FAA project scope and would require a separate KDOT grant application.
Olsen's provided an estimate for the work on the green (non-FAA-covered) area of about $200,000; the meeting record states the county's share for that portion would be $20,000 if a KDOT grant is awarded. For the FAA-covered portion, the contractor's estimate and the county's share were discussed in the meeting and a county share figure of about $27,000 was mentioned.
The board discussed the FAA grant timing and the age of the pavement in the north and south halves of the runway; the north half was described as newer and not yet eligible for certain FAA grants, while the south half is older and more likely to be covered. The county noted that KDOT-funded repair work can allow use of less costly materials and engineers than FAA projects, which could reduce local cost while still addressing the panels that FAA will not cover.
Separately, the clerk reported that two airport commission members resigned during the recent meeting. Commissioners asked staff to advertise the vacancies and noted that applications are available in the clerk's office; nominees will be routed through the board for recommendation to the airport commission.
No formal appropriation for runway repairs was made at the meeting; staff applied for KDOT grant funding for non-FAA-covered areas and will return with grant outcomes and firm cost estimates when available.
