Speaker 1 said Winnsboro plans to fill an existing pond so the airport’s AWOS (automated weather observing system) can be sited in a more optimal location and be programmed for 2026.

The project is awaiting final environmental clearance. Speaker 1 said the team has received an initial environmental approval and is 'ready to roll' but that a second review — being handled by Michael with KSA and focused on wildlife/animal issues — remains outstanding. 'We are working through environmentals. We got our first okay,' Speaker 1 said. Speaker 2 added that two environmental reports are required before east-side work can proceed.

The Airport Layout Plan (ALP) has been updated to show the AWOS’s new location, and Christian Cox, identified in the discussion as the city’s TxDOT representative, has approved and programmed the AWOS installation for 2026. Speaker 1 said finance has given a preliminary green light on funding.

Budget figures appear at two points in the transcript and are presented here as stated. Speaker 1 said the state is 'giving us $315,000 for that project, and the city's match will be $35 (thousand).' Elsewhere in the same meeting the AWOS program figure is cited as $350,000 as part of a list of GRAMA projects; the transcript does not reconcile those two AWOS numbers. The transcript also lists a land-reimbursement amount ($267,000 to the EDC) and a TOFA grading figure (cited as $450,000), with a summed total of roughly $1,067,000 and an indicated local share of $106,000. Speaker 1 said a budget amendment will be required to cover the city’s local share.

Speaker 1 described a funding pathway tied to a future eligibility change: if the airport regains 'classified' status in December 2026, the meeting was told the airport would be eligible for $150,000 per year for the next decade to match a longer-term plan. 'So we will be eligible starting in December '26 for a $150,000 a year,' Speaker 1 said.

Next steps recorded in the discussion include completing the outstanding environmental reports and, pending approvals, proceeding with the fill and AWOS installation in 2026. The meeting did not record a formal vote or final contract award during the discussion.

The airport leadership said the ALP updates and the EDC’s deed of property to the city were completed, measures they flagged as prerequisites for reimbursement and to move forward with the AWOS relocation.