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Board approves $168,300 professional-services request to prepare Runway 27 approach protection and easement work
Summary
The board approved a BF&S professional services agreement to support Runway 27 approach protection work, with staff saying about $36,750 of preliminary costs are expected to be reimbursed by FAA funds and the remainder will cover appraisals, title and legal work required before grant application.
The Elkhart City Airport Board approved a professional-services agreement with BF&S to prepare approach-protection work tied to Runway 27, staff said, and voted to forward the appropriation to the common council as the next step in the grant sequence.
Andy Jones said the work is "a lot of advanced work" because the Federal Aviation Administration requires certain tasks completed before a grant can be formally requested. Jones and consultant Paul explained the $168,300 estimate covers a mix of FAA-reimbursable items and local upfront costs: about $36,750 was identified as the FAA-covered portion and the balance will fund appraisals, review appraisals, title searches, recording fees and legal services to support land acquisition and easement work.
Paul said the reimbursement mix is standard for civil land-acquisition processes and that the FAA expects signed purchase agreements and a closing date before scheduling grants so grant dollars will be timed to avoid tying up local funds.
Board members asked whether recording fees for easements could be waived or reimbursed; staff said the estimated recording cost is roughly $900 and that such costs are typically included as reimbursable expenses under the grant, though local waivers are possible to pursue. Jones described the navigational easement as a required easement for approach protection rather than a public right-of-way.
Why it matters: The agreement funds preparatory legal and appraisal work that the FAA requires before approving land or easement purchases. Those tasks are a prerequisite for later grant reimbursement and for clearing obstructions near the approach surface for Runway 27.
Next steps: Staff will seek the council appropriation, complete appraisals and title work, secure signed purchase agreements where necessary and then submit the formal grant request to the FAA as the schedule permits.
