Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board reviews taxiway, fence, terminal and land-acquisition funding; state and FAA funding discussed
Summary
Staff reviewed project schedules and funding for the taxiway, perimeter fence, terminal design and potential land acquisitions. Board members discussed using expiring AIG (BIL) funds, FAA entitlements and state matching to complete projects and debated master plan versus a more limited hangar development plan.
Board members heard an extended briefing on capital projects, funding sources and project timing for work planned at the Guthrie–Edmond Regional Airport, including the taxiway construction, a perimeter fence, land acquisitions for future taxi lanes and preliminary terminal design work.
Staff said construction-phase payments for the taxiway are expected to fall in fiscal 2026 and that a public presentation for tenants will be distributed closer to construction start. Good bid results on the taxiway left about $295,000 in AIG (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) funds, which staff proposed to use to fund a perimeter fence; final bids for the fence came in below early estimates, and staff reported an estimated cost of about $8,000 per city for clearing and construction for the section from the magic bait shop to Prairie Grove. Staff also noted ongoing wildlife management costs (an expanded USDA contract) that will be reviewed after fence completion and additional data on wildlife sightings.
On land acquisition, staff said they have one appraisal back and are waiting for a second; they expect appraisals to return higher than previously estimated. A $300,000 state placeholder had been shown for both properties in earlier planning, and staff said they are prepared to pursue FAA funding for land acquisition while using expiring AIG funds as a backup. Staff cautioned that using AIG on land could reduce the amount of apron construction they can finance, and that AIG allocations expire in three years.
Terminal design work was moved into FY26 based on discussions with project engineers. Staff introduced the FAA’s incoming program manager for the airport, Kathy Franklin, who has asked for additional documents and a more thorough environmental and obstruction analysis; that review may affect timing and contract deliverables. Staff also said the airport’s airport layout drawing (ALP) and master plan have not been fully updated (the master plan dates to 1999) and that the state is more willing to fund a narrower “hangar development plan” than a full master plan; several board members recommended pursuing a scaled, interim strategic or action plan to guide near-term development while keeping longer-term master-plan options open.
No formal funding votes were taken during the session; staff identified follow-up tasks including completing appraisals, finalizing bid awards at a subsequent meeting and coordinating FAA and state funding requests.
