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Board reviews 10‑year CIP, schedules runway painting and taxiway rehabilitation after FAA inspection
Summary
Lochner and airport staff outlined a 10‑year capital improvement plan, near‑term FAA compliance painting this year, design work for Taxiway Charlie with a roughly $650,000 state grant for local match planning, and other projects including taxi lane renaming, PAPI control box relocation and snow equipment needs.
Lochner planning staff and the airport manager presented the airport’s capital improvement program (CIP), outlining near‑term FAA compliance work and larger reconstruction projects expected over the next decade.
Judd Hill of Lochner said the CIP is a 10‑year planning document that coordinates local, state and federal funding. He recapped federal entitlement funding for a general aviation airport (~$150,000/year) and an historical Airport Improvement Grant (AIG) allocation (about $295,000/year), noting a recent federal reauthorization increased FAA cost participation to about 95% for some projects in FY2025–26 and reduced local match requirements. The board heard that the inspector identified new marking requirements for runways and taxiways; to address that, staff will paint runway markings this year with available state funds and plan taxiway painting in spring.
On capital projects, staff described three near‑term priorities:
• Taxiway Charlie: a state‑funded rehabilitation project (presenters said the state grant being pursued is roughly $650,000 toward a project largely covered by state funds and local match); geotechnical work is already complete and designers plan to put the project out to bid in the spring with construction expected next year. The scope will likely involve milling and overlay, with final pavement approach dictated by geotechnical findings.
• Taxi Lane 'India' project and naming: planners said the taxi lane needs reconstruction and raised a naming issue with FAA signage guidance (letters like I, O and X are discouraged because they can be confused with numerals or runway symbology). Board members discussed renaming the lane now to avoid future complications when signage is added.
• PAPI control boxes and other inspector items: inspectors requested relocation or modification of PAPI control boxes; Lochner explained a compromise to move equipment just outside the runway safety area so it meets manufacturer specifications and avoids extensive work under taxiways.
Staff also raised concerns that a previously budgeted $200,000 for snow removal equipment is likely inadequate now because heavy equipment prices have risen substantially and lead times can be long; board members flagged the need to revisit equipment budgets and contract arrangements.
What it means: federal and state funding opportunities reduce the local share for large reconstruction, but projects still require local match and long‑lead planning. Board members agreed to continue coordination with UDOT Aeronautics and the FAA; staff expected to hold a Zoom meeting with FAA and state staff to prioritize projects and schedule bids and geotech before winter.
