Broadwater County airport board hears fuel‑system delays, apron work and rodeo parking concerns

At a Broadwater County Airport Board meeting, airport staff reported continued delays in bringing a new automated fuel system fully online and described pavement and tie‑down work at Townsend Airport. Rodeo organizers asked the board about fencing removal and short‑term parking options while nearby construction proceeds.

The airport reported that the QTPOD fueling hardware has been installed but the network processor required to enable card‑based sales remains pending. Staff said several vendors were considered; one vendor (Heartland) was discussed early in the procurement process, and the board is currently pursuing a contract route through Phillips 66 via City Service Valcon. Board members described vendor responsiveness as slow and noted quoted fee rates in the 2.9–3.5 percent range for data/processing services. While staff and a handful of individuals have sold some fuel manually, automated retail fuel sales are not yet active.

The airport provided usage and inventory figures: wholesale fuel remained at about $4.20 per gallon, staff said 300 gallons had been sold since the previous month and approximately 7,300 gallons remained in inventory. Staff said the apron expansion will provide more room to operate and that the new paved surface is expected to be oil‑sealed; there is no engineered collection basin for agricultural sprayer spillage in the current project scope, so sprayer operators will be responsible for any clean‑up, staff said.

Airport manager Dwight Thompson reported that the board has installed new tie‑downs for aircraft (ten tie‑down positions were completed and near completion work remains such as painting and backfilling). Several aircraft owners moved aircraft to temporary locations in anticipation of closure during construction; staff said the airport will delay a planned mountain‑flying workshop and an open house until next year to avoid competing traffic and to reduce congestion during construction.

Members of the Broadwater County Rodeo Association raised multiple operational concerns tied to ongoing and planned airport work. Denise Thompson, identified as a rodeo association representative, reported that a north‑side fence had been removed and that the contract language on whether the contractor would replace or relocate fencing was unclear to the rodeo organizers. The rodeo group requested that any removed new fencing material be preserved for reuse if possible and said they could help with removing existing fence segments if that would assist the schedule.

Rodeo organizers also described likely parking shortfalls during rodeo days after construction of a new water tower and recommended exploring temporary parking farther north or west of the current lots, expanding fenced access points, or running a shuttle (for example, a tractor/hay‑wagon shuttle) from overflow fields. Board members and staff said they will consult the project coordinator (Mary), the project engineer (RPA referenced in the meeting), and Lance (project lead referenced in staff email) to confirm whether temporary parking in proposed areas would conflict with FAA runway protection zones or other safety limits. Staff noted some identified strips of land are city property or jointly owned right‑of‑way and that coordination with city staff will be needed.

Next steps reported at the meeting: staff will continue to pursue a vendor for the fuel network processor and finalize contracts; engineering staff will confirm whether temporary parking or fenced access can be provided without encroaching on runway protection areas; rodeo organizers and airport staff will continue to coordinate on fencing and parking; and the board will revisit any items that require formal action after staff reports back.

Sources: statements and reports delivered during the Broadwater County Airport Board meeting transcript concerning the QTPOD installation, contractor communications, apron and tie‑down work, fuel inventory and sales, and rodeo parking and fencing concerns.