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Build Kansas panel forwards 21 grant applications including airport, water and safety projects
Summary
The Build Kansas steering committee reviewed and forwarded two dozen matching‑fund applications across airport upgrades, water management, and Safe Streets and Roads for All projects, approving most by consensus and voting on a small number with conditions.
The Build Kansas steering committee on an administrative meeting forwarded 21 Build Kansas Fund (BKF) applications for final consideration, moving a slate of airport, water, and roadway-safety projects to the next step in the state review process.
Committee members said the packet included airport terminal and obstruction removal projects, a satellite-enabled groundwater accounting platform, ecological restoration work to remove invasive trees along a river corridor, multiple Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) planning and implementation requests, and local 911 and real-time‑crime center upgrades.
The committee front‑loaded federal grant programs in the discussion: applicants requested BKF match dollars to leverage federal funds from programs such as the U.S. Department of Transportation Airport Infrastructure program, the WaterSMART Applied Science grants, WIFIA loans, and SS4A. Jason Fizel, interim executive director of the Kansas Infrastructure Hub, told the committee the hub had processed a near‑record number of applications this month and summarized each request for the panel.
Most applications were forwarded by consensus after staff presentation and brief questions. Where the committee recorded formal motions, it recorded and voted on conditional approvals: Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 3 was approved after a motion to require a small additional cash contribution to meet the committee’s local‑match expectation; the City of Hays WIFIA submission was forwarded with an explicit committee stipulation that any BKF award be coordinated so the city would not take duplicate federal funding through both WIFIA and a BRIC award for the same project. The committee also approved the minutes of its May 22 meeting.
Applications forwarded include (applicant, program, BKF request as stated in packet or “not specified” where the packet did not list a BKF request): Wichita Airport Authority (airport terminal upgrade; $180,000), Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 3 (WaterSMART water accounting platform; $380,886.49), Ducks Unlimited Inc. (invasive riparian tree removal; $793,633.33), City of Hays (WIFIA wellfield and 69‑mile pipeline; amount not specified in BKF packet), Medicine Lodge (airport grading and GIS; $5,500), Ottawa (taxiway reconstruction; $29,250.50), Clay Center (hangar construction; $13,319.95), Junction City (airport obstruction removal; $15,200), City of Lawrence (SS4A corridor demonstration; $76,000), Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (SS4A implementation; $950,000), Salina (SS4A demonstration; $28,500), Norton County lead regional application (SS4A planning across five counties; $150,000), Dodge City (SS4A implementation; $1,114,113), Spring Hill (SS4A implementation and supplemental planning; $2,906,000), Wichita / WAMPO (Broadway corridor SS4A implementation; $4,000,750), Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office (911 and real‑time crime center upgrades; $950,000), Jefferson County (SS4A planning and demonstration; $120,200), Leavenworth County (SS4A corridor projects; $5,130,000), Winfield (SS4A corridor & pedestrian improvements; $896,785.75), Goddard (grade‑separated crossing / SS4A; $1,235,000), and Olathe (compact roundabout demonstration and speed management; $164,160).
The committee discussed the local match expectations repeatedly during the packet review. Several applicants reported in‑kind matches (staff time, outreach) instead of cash; staff noted the BKF guidance describes 5% of the non‑federal match as a guideline rather than a fixed requirement and the hub has granted exemptions in prior rounds when applicants provided documented reasons. Representative Francis, Representative Helgerson and other members pushed for clearer communication to applicants that cash is preferable to in‑kind contributions when practicable.
Committee chair actions were voice votes or unanimous consent for most items; where members recorded motions and seconds the meeting transcript records the maker and seconder. Committee staff indicated the hub will adjust certain applications before forwarding federal packages when the committee requested changes, for example updating a match line to reflect a small required cash contribution.
The panel paused several times to clarify program details (for example, SS4A demonstration versus feasibility studies, BRIC rescindment and recompetition procedures, and WIFIA loan vs. grant distinctions). Secretary Calvin Reid of KDOT answered committee questions about program timelines and long‑term strategic uses of BKF funds.
The committee approved the May 22 minutes by motion; the meeting adjourned after forwarding the listed applications for the next stage of federal review.
