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Daggett County hears public concerns over Manila Airport night operations and runway cracks
Summary
Residents and staff discussed whether a nighttime evaluation and instrument-approach work are required for Manila Airport, the county's unsuccessful RFP for an airport engineer, and urgent runway cracking that residents warned could render the runway unusable after winter.
An extended public-comment period at the Daggett County Commission meeting on Oct. 21 focused on Manila Airport, where residents and county staff debated federal and state requirements for nighttime landings, the county’s search for an airport engineer and an urgent need to seal runway cracks.
A resident who spoke at length warned, "Those cracks are all over. They're fourth of an inch, clear to 1 inch. This winter, if they don't get sealed, you're not gonna have a runway to work with you anyway." The comment underscored local concern that freeze-thaw cycles could damage the runway surface unless crack-sealing work is done before winter.
County staff said they have started the process required for nighttime operations and are following guidance from state and federal aviation contacts. A county speaker said the nighttime evaluation process has begun and that, without that evaluation and full recognition of the lights, nighttime operations would be restricted to daytime only; staff also said the project was "about the 95% mark" toward completion. The staff update included that the county previously published an RFP for an airport engineer but did not receive any applicants.
Residents and other meeting participants recommended consulting airport specialists and associations; one attendee suggested the Utah Airport Operator Association and specific engineering firms such as Dibble Engineering to ensure compliance and potentially avoid unnecessary expense. Another attendee noted that AirMed helicopters have previously landed at the field at night without reported issues, raising questions about how much work is needed for emergency flights versus scheduled passenger service.
County staff outlined two upcoming meetings in November — one with the Town of Dutch John and the Bernal airport manager and another with the state — intended to finalize a capital improvements project list. Commissioners and staff said they intend to prioritize crack sealing on that list to increase the likelihood of state approval and funding.
The meeting recessed at 9:29 a.m. for a municipal building authority session; the airport discussion was left as a point of staff follow-up and coordination with state and local partners.
