Helms & Associates outlines airport funding, hangar expansion paths for Lincoln County

Lincoln County commissioners heard a detailed briefing from Helms & Associates on Thursday about funding opportunities and infrastructure priorities at Lincoln County Airport.

Brooke, a project lead for Helms & Associates, told the commission that primary capital support for general aviation airports comes from the federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which guarantees eligible airports about $150,000 in entitlement funds per year, plus state apportionment and discretionary national grants for safety-critical projects. "You're guaranteed a $150,000 as long as you meet the minimum criteria to be a public use airport," Brooke said.

The consultants recapped work since 2019, including environmental work and land acquisition (about $1 million) and phased apron reconstruction. They showed a 2024 pavement-condition index that identifies "red" areas needing reconstruction and said projects of the scale needed typically run in the hundreds of thousands to about $1 million per phase.

Brooke and Bob Babcock, Helms' president, described the current project to design and construct the airport's south hangar area (roughly 20 acres previously purchased) and other near-term priorities such as hangar taxi lanes and runway lighting replacement. Babcock said LED runway-light upgrades are eligible for federal funding but would likely require a 3–4 week runway closure during installation.

Commissioners asked about a published instrument (GPS) approach and what has delayed it. Brooke said much of the preparatory work and surveys had been completed but that Sioux Falls Tower lodged an objection late in the FAA process, which paused publication. "Because there was a strong objection to the approach being developed and published, it has been stopped," Brooke said; she added that progress likely depends on Sioux Falls' airspace classification decisions and continued FAA coordination.

The consultants said county-owned hangars can be eligible as revenue-producing projects but cautioned that the FAA expects airside pavements to be in good condition before approving such projects. "Until we get all of the red pavements taken care of on there, the answer from the FAA will likely be no," Brooke said.

The presentation noted short-term funding windows: allocations from the bipartisan infrastructure law have supported extra funds but are expiring; some competitive terminal grants are forthcoming and can cover a high percentage of eligible costs. The consultants encouraged the commission to pursue available competitive opportunities and to coordinate with state and FAA officials on sequencing repairs so larger, revenue-producing projects can be funded.

Public input during and after the presentation emphasized high demand for hangar space and the trade-offs between county ownership and private development. Dale Knuth, an airport board member and president of the South Dakota Pilots Association, recommended private development for hangars and said the South Dakota Aeronautics Commission "will not support any revenue-producing requests." He estimated that building the south 20 acres could represent roughly $2.1 million in construction at about $95 per square foot for typical hangars.

Next steps the consultants proposed included pursuing competitive terminal grants that may carry 95% federal funding, applying for state apportionment where eligible, and sequencing projects so airside pavements are addressed before revenue-producing hangars.

The commission did not take formal action on the consultant presentation itself; subsequent agenda items turned to specific policy actions on ground-lease rates and lease terms.