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Airport board advances ARFF truck procurement and multiple 2026 FAA-funded projects
Summary
Board members discussed construction and closeout timelines for apron expansion, taxiway work and pavement preservation, and a plan to advance grant applications and a 25% down payment (about $266,140 on a $1,064,000 truck) so a new ARFF truck can be built pending grant award.
The Airport Board spent the bulk of its meeting detailing a slate of FAA-funded projects for 2026 and the county’s plan to move procurement and grant paperwork forward, including a partial down payment to secure a new aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) truck.
Board and staff updates outlined a near-term schedule: taxiway Alpha 1 is in closeout pending AGIS survey and FAA acceptance; a taxi lane expansion awaits final paint in spring before closeout; and apron expansion construction is slated to begin in early–mid March, pending a power‑service agreement. Staff said the apron reconstruction and expansion were funded by FY2025 grants that arrived too late in the year for construction, so much of the work is being completed in 2026.
Why it matters: the projects are grant‑funded but require county sign‑offs and small local matches and fees before construction can proceed. Staff emphasized the need to sign grant applications promptly so FAA processing can occur on schedule and explained the independent fee estimate step used for consultant contracts above roughly $100,000.
On the ARFF truck, staff described a vendor requirement for a 25% production deposit to begin building the vehicle. Using the bid figure discussed in the meeting (about $1,064,000), staff calculated the 25% deposit at roughly $266,140. Participants said the county proposes to advance that sum temporarily from county coffers and reimburse it when the federal grant award is accepted; the county attorney has requested a change to the contract’s venue clause before signatures are finalized. Equipment procurement will be split in two awards: the truck chassis by Oshkosh and equipment package by Rosenbauer, with the equipment drawdown held until the federal grant is in hand.
Staff also reviewed airfield pavement preservation work (crack sealing, rubber removal in high‑rub areas and an oil/emulsification surface treatment) and warned that the runway will require temporary, phased closures for maintenance with heavy emphasis on notification to users and night work where feasible. An independent fee estimate for an entrance‑road contract was cited as an example of the upfront costs (about $3,500) that are reimbursable at drawdown.
Next steps and outstanding details: staff will circulate a color‑coded project map and independent fee estimates, finalize grant paperwork for the ARFF truck, entrance road and pavement preservation, and place prioritized items on the next agenda. The board did not record a formal vote on procurement at this meeting; staff said procurement will proceed only after required contract edits and county sign‑offs are complete.
