Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Airport Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council reviews FAA/ODAA hangar grant opportunity; staff asked to return with engineer and financing plan
Summary
Council discussed using expiring FAA/ODAA AIG funds and a state hangar loan/grant program to add aircraft hangars at Perry Municipal Airport. Staff recommended pursuing the opportunity, noting a likely local match of roughly $60,000 and strong local demand; council asked staff to bring engineer pricing and contract documents to the next meeting.
City staff and airport representatives told the council about a grant/loan opportunity that pairs FAA regional airport funding with Oklahoma Department of Aviation (ODAA) hangar programs and noted the city has about $159,000 in AIG funds that will expire if not used in 2025.
Staff described the proposal as a low‑cost way to add revenue‑generating hangars and increase fuel sales and airport self‑sufficiency. The conceptual plan discussed at the meeting focused on building multiple 50-by-50-foot hangars in a string on the south side of the airport ramp; staff said that site already has nearby electrical service and would minimize new utility costs.
Estimated costs and local match Staff said the grant would cover the large majority of construction; the city’s share was described in the meeting as about 5% of the project cost, with staff estimating a local contribution in the ballpark of $55,000–$65,000 (the transcript referenced a commonly used planning buffer and a roughly $60,000 local contribution). Staff called the $159,000 FAA/ODAA AIG allocation a short‑term appropriation that must be committed toward work this year or the funds will return to a statewide pot.
Demand and design considerations Airport staff reported an existing waiting list for hangar space (several callers and five on an informal wait list were mentioned) and cited rent comparators: one nearby city rents similar 50x50 hangars at about $600/month. Staff also discussed alternative approaches—building one larger open‑span hangar that could later be subdivided versus immediately building smaller individual bays—and recommended further engineering input.
Council direction Council did not vote to commit funds at this meeting but directed the city manager to bring back detailed engineering estimates and contract documents at the next meeting and to invite the city engineer (Toby Baker) to answer technical questions. Staff said the match would likely come from recent utility rate revenue increases absent a separate appropriation.
Why it matters If built, new hangars could raise fuel sales and lease revenue, shrink annual operational deficits at the airport and make the airport more attractive to mechanics or tenants. The key constraint is timing: staff emphasized the need to obligate or spend available AIG funds before they expire in 2025.
Next steps Staff will return with engineer pricing for a modular (divisible) design, options for a single open span versus multiple bays, and a draft contract and funding plan for council review.
