Newton approves grants, contractor and consultant steps to begin Airport Runway 8-26 reconstruction

Newton commissioners approved a package of grant agreements, a construction contract and consultant tasking to advance reconstruction of Airport Runway 8-26, while discussing remaining funding and timing tied to federal grants.

The commission approved a Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Aviation grant agreement covering $671,361 in state funds for the project and later voted to allow city staff to sign the contract with Donlinger Construction to begin work after confirmation of the remaining grant funding. Commissioners also authorized a task order for HNTB to provide construction administration and closeout services when grant funds are available. City staff reported a preliminary federal funding allocation under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), but said some federal grant documents remained pending.

The decisions matter because the project is a multi-million-dollar reconstruction with federal, state and local funding interwoven; city staff said delays in grant paperwork could affect a 90-day bid price lock offered by the low bidder. The commission sought to limit financial liability to the city by withholding staff signature on the construction contract until grant awards were final while voting to approve the grant agreement and to authorize staff to execute the Donlinger contract once grant funding was certain.

City staff told commissioners the reconstruction contract with Donlinger is roughly $4.72 million and that primary federal grants (IIJA and AIP) are expected to cover most of the cost. Staff summarized local obligations: a KDOT local match of about 10% for the state grant, and an overall city exposure estimated at $288,536 when combining the KDOT match, Donlinger local share and task order expenses. Commissioners pressed staff for clarity on the funding sources and timing. City staff said they had received the IIJA award (about $1.45 million for this project) and were expecting remaining AIP awards from the FAA within weeks; staff described communications with FAA regional offices and expressed confidence the awards would be issued.

Commissioners also discussed legal risk if the city executed a large construction contract before receiving final grants, noting Kansas cash-basis budget law would limit enforceability of an unbudgeted obligation. City legal counsel explained that cash-basis law applies to municipal contracts and that contractors accept related risk when contracting with the municipality. Staff warned the bidder’s 90-day price lock expired the day after the meeting and that failing to sign before expiry could expose the city to a higher bid, though staff did not advise signing without funding in hand.

Commissioners voted to approve the KDOT Aviation grant agreement and later approved a motion allowing city staff to sign and execute the Donlinger construction contract as presented. They also approved the HNTB task order to provide construction-phase supervision and closeout services, with execution tied to receipt of grant funds.

City staff said they will present final grant award documents and the executed contracts to the commission when they arrive and continue coordinating with FAA and state grant managers.