Committee approves $1 million transfer to taxi‑lane rehabilitation at Jim Hamilton LBA

The Transportation Ad Hoc Committee approved a staff recommendation to transfer $1,000,000 from the 2012 Commerce Drive Improvement Project to a Taxi Lane Rehabilitation Project at Jim Hamilton LBA airport.

Director Michael Maloney told the committee the Commerce Drive project had a $5,000,000 budget tied to a runway extension that “does not seem likely,” and staff recommended reallocating $1,000,000 to the taxi‑lane rehabilitation, which already has FAA funding identified. He said the Commerce Drive work was originally intended to support a runway extension and that, without that expansion, the Commerce Drive project would route through active business properties and is not appropriate to move forward as originally planned.

Maloney said the taxi‑lane rehabilitation includes both FAA‑funded taxiway areas and non‑federally funded internal roads and parking areas. He identified a local match for the FAA‑funded portion of the project of $67,588 and mentioned additional unfunded projects in the broader scope totaling roughly $916,271 that would not normally be covered by FAA grants.

Airport General Manager Peter Savalas said the FAA monies for the taxi‑lane project are reimbursement‑based but that the grant is “locked in.” “As we expend those dollars, we will submit the proper documentation, then they will pay us back,” Savalas said. He added that reimbursements begin when the county submits invoices and supporting documentation.

Committee members expressed concern about the timing of reimbursements during a federal government shutdown. Maloney and Savalas said the county would begin work and seek reimbursement as invoices are submitted; staff recommended managing local expenditures so they do not exceed a self‑imposed limit while federal funds are pending.

A committee member moved to accept staff’s recommendation with an added limit allowing up to 20% local spending before seeking FAA reimbursement; another member seconded. The motion passed by roll call: Vice Chair Pugh — yes; Chairman Livingston — yes; Councilor Weaver — yes; Councilor Aline — yes; Chairwoman Mackey — yes.

The committee also noted that approximately $4,000,000 remains in the 2012 penny fund for other projects as named, and that further recommendations may be made for allocation of those funds at a later date.

Pending steps identified by staff include project scoping and administrative steps required before construction begins; staff said reimbursements will follow normal FAA procedures once expenditures are documented.