Commission approves multiple airport construction actions, amends Clint/Sherman contracts and moves five-year ACP to public comment

The Oklahoma Aerospace and Aeronautics Commission approved several airport construction items and program changes at its March 12 meeting, including a Claremore hangar change order, multiple design-phase approvals across the state, contract amendments for the Clinton-Sherman (Clint and Sherman) pavement rehabilitation program, and a change order to Phase 1 at Clint and Sherman. The commission also approved adding a set of projects to the five-year Airport Construction Program (ACP) and authorized release of the FY2026 ACP for a 30-day public comment period.

Claremore Regional (item 9C): staff brought a change order to reconcile a fire-marshal requirement to fire-rate a rear wall and to cover additional utility work. The estimated additional cost was $49,510. Staff said funding for the change order would come from federal funds ($27,231), state funds ($19,804) and sponsor matching funds (approximately $2,470). Commissioners voted to approve the change order; a roll call recorded ayes from Commissioner Seth Phillips, Commissioner Charles Ortega, Commissioner Lindy Ritz, Chairman Blake Rainey and Commissioner Jerry Hunter.

Airport Construction Program additions and design approvals: staff recommended, and the commission approved, adding a slate of projects (fuel systems, T-hangars, box hangars, taxiway and runway rehabilitation, and airfield optimization at Max Westheimer Airport) to the ACP and approved numerous design-phase requests and an Atoka environmental assessment. Staff detailed programmatic funding shares (FAA, state, local) where available and said some items were informational only (e.g., El Reno and Elk City line-item adjustments that do not change the department’s previously approved share).

Clint and Sherman contracts and Phase 1 change order: staff asked the commission to approve contract amendments and new contracts to advance pavement rehabilitation at Clint and Sherman Airport. Amendments included additional geotechnical testing, a supplemental survey and a Lochner contract amendment to prepare construction documents for remaining phases. Staff recommended and commissioners approved a change order to Phase 1 for additional pavement replacements, with an estimated additional cost of $542,767.50; staff said the amount will be funded with OSIDA prep funds. The vote recorded the same five commissioners as ayes.

Five‑year ACP (item 14): staff proposed the next ACP iteration covering FY2026–2030 and described project timing and funding assumptions for roughly 60 projects across the state, including terminal buildings, runway and taxiway rehabilitations, hangar development, fuel systems and preliminary engineering reports. The commission voted to approve placing the FY2026 ACP update on a 30-day public comment period; the roll call recorded unanimous ayes from the same five commissioners.

Why it matters: the actions provide funding and approvals for airport infrastructure across Oklahoma, affect FAA and state matching dollars, and advance a major rehabilitation program at Clint and Sherman Airport that the staff characterized as a multi‑phase, multi‑year undertaking.

Ending: staff said they will return to the commission with final ACP approval after the public comment period and will execute the approved contracts and change orders per standard procurement and grant practices.

(See actions list for motion text, vote records and funding notes.)