Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Chautauqua County airport manager outlines five-year ACIP for Dunkirk and Jamestown, seeks grant applications
Summary
Airport manager Shannon Fisher presented the county’s five-year capital improvement plans for Dunkirk and Jamestown airports, identifying projects including obstruction removal, taxiway rehabilitation, security gate upgrades, and terminal improvements and explained differences between FAA and New York State grant eligibility.
Shannon Fisher, Chautauqua County airport manager, presented the county’s 2025–2029 Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) and sought committee authorization to apply for federal and state aid for projects at Dunkirk and Jamestown airports.
Fisher walked the committee through near-term priorities for Dunkirk: easement acquisitions for approach protection, taxiway Alpha West design and construction, security gate upgrades and obstruction-removal design and construction. She said many projects are funded through FAA entitlement or discretionary programs, which typically cover 90 percent of eligible costs with the county responsible for the local share. "FAA offers us airport improvement funding that's 90% and then 5% local share, 5% state," she said, noting some projects may secure different funding mixes.
Fisher also described New York State grants, which can fund revenue-producing projects such as T-hangar construction and terminal revenue areas that federal grants cannot. She testified the county will pursue New York State grants for T-hangar design/construction and for terminal building upgrades that the state grant can cover, while seeking federal funds for airfield and safety projects.
Committee members asked about lifecycle expectations for runway rehabilitation (Fisher said a 20-year useful life) and about on/off-airport obstructions that require easement acquisition and appraisals. Fisher said the county uses a pavement management study and an airport layout plan to prioritize projects and that grant assurances require the county to maintain improvements.
The committee discussed timing and next steps; because the session was discussion-only, members did not vote. Fisher will proceed with preparing applications and the county will return to the Legislature as grants and project timelines firm up.
Next steps: staff to prepare federal and state grant applications and report back on awards and required local matches.
