KLJ outlines runway-extension options for Carter County airport; commissioners asked to seek operator letters

Justin Zindel of KLJ Engineering briefed the board on alternatives and preliminary cost estimates for extending the county airport runway. Current data justify a 575-foot extension under an AirTract 402 analysis, which would move the runway from 3,800 feet to roughly 4,375 feet. Extending the runway to serve medical-evac aircraft (King Air/PC-12) or to reach roughly 761–807 feet requires additional justification and would increase ineligible local costs.

Zindel said the engineering/construction estimate to reach the 575-foot level is eligible for federal funding and that adding further footage could raise ineligible local-share costs (examples provided in the briefing: an extra roughly $109,000 and another smaller ineligible amount of about $53,000 for certain elements). He estimated a worst-case local share in the low hundreds of thousands (he cited a figure around $332,600 in one scenario) plus land-acquisition costs. Zindel recommended collecting letters of intent from local operators — including an agricultural operator and air-ambulance providers — to reinforce justification to the FAA. He proposed a follow-up meeting with FAA planners, Montana Aeronautics, and county staff near the end of May to finalize CIP submissions and environmental-path options.

Commissioners discussed options to acquire land now and run environmental review later, the timing of CIP (capital-improvement program) deadlines and potential use of entitlements or short-term county funding to advance design work.