Coffey County approves $722,991 change order to extend SSM airport access road; county to cover $654,275.90

The Coffey County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on July 21 to approve a $722,991.10 change order that adds a roughly one-half mile extension of the SSM airport access road to Twentieth Road, contingent on written approval from the Kansas Department of Commerce. The board also designated the county’s community improvement reserve fund as the local match for the project.

The commissioners’ final motion set the project’s total cost at $1,404,275.90, with $750,000 to be paid from a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the remaining $654,275.90 to come from Coffey County’s community improvement reserve fund. “The total cost of the project is $1,404,275.90 with $750,000 to be paid from the CDBG grant and [the] remaining balance of $654,275.90 to be paid by the county from the community improvement reserve fund,” the chair announced before the board voted.

Why it matters: the board is using federal CDBG dollars to fund an infrastructure project intended to improve access to the county airport and adjacent property. Commissioners said they are working to accelerate design and permitting so construction can proceed in time for the next school year and to minimize typical one-year design timelines associated with CDBG projects.

Key facts and background - Change order and extension: $722,991.10 to add a 0.5‑mile north extension of the airport access road to Twentieth Road; contractors and engineers recommended the change order. - Project budget: total $1,404,275.90. CDBG grant: $750,000. County responsibility: $654,275.90 from the community improvement reserve fund. - Timing and process: commissioners heard that roughly six months of design remain and that the county has initiated a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental assessment and is sending required agency notices. Staff said they are pushing to complete design and advertise for bids within about six months. - Contingency: the board accepted the change order contingent on receipt of written approval from the Kansas Department of Commerce; staff said the department already provided verbal approval.

Discussion, concerns and next steps Commissioners discussed practical construction issues tied to the extension, including whether an existing fence line and cattle containment would need relocation. One commissioner asked who would move the fence and when; staff deferred detailed answers to the project engineers and the construction contractor. Commissioners emphasized that any fence relocation or cattle management will need coordination before heavy construction moves onto affected pastures.

The board also reviewed internal accounting and said a subsequent administrative step will be taken to identify the specific county fund sources and to record the required transfers and journal entries for the county match.

Related CDBG administration and payments At the same meeting the board approved payment of $10,950 in invoices to Western Consultants (vendor reference ED23‑IN‑001) for CDBG grant administration related to the SSM airport access road. The board moved to pay the total and to move prior payments from economic development into the community improvement reserve fund so the grant-administration costs are charged to the same fund covering the local match.

Votes at a glance (formal motions recorded in the meeting) - Approve change order (SSM Road / Killa Construction): motion passed unanimously; change order $722,991.10 contingent on written Department of Commerce approval; chairman authorized to sign. - Rescind prior motion on the SSM change order (procedural): motion to rescind carried unanimously earlier in the meeting; board then reintroduced and approved the revised motion including funding details. - Approve payment to Western Consultants (three invoices, total $10,950) from the community improvement reserve fund: motion carried unanimously.

What’s next Staff said they will send the Department of Commerce the required letter and expect written approval in a few days; engineers will continue with design and environmental review. The board directed staff to identify the specific county line items for the local match and to return with any further documentation needed for accounting and for potential fence or landowner coordination.