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Beaufort County airport board approves grants to fund runway and taxiway work; Taxiway Foxtrot nearly complete
Summary
Beaufort County's airport board approved two federal grant acceptances to support runway rehabilitation and heard that Taxiway Foxtrot at Hilton Head is effectively finished, with permanent markings to be added next month. Voice votes carried each motion; individual tallies were not transcribed.
Beaufort County's airport board on Monday approved two federal grant acceptances intended to fund runway rehabilitation work and heard an update that Taxiway Foxtrot at Hilton Head is essentially complete.
John, the airport director, told the board the paving for Taxiway Foxtrot is finished and temporary markings are in place. "Taxiway Foxtrot Rehab at Hilton Head is just about wrapped up," he said, adding that permanent markings with glass beads will be installed in about a month and that the project met its roughly 28-day window despite storm-related delays.
The board voted to accept a grant listed in the agenda as "FABIL" for work at Buford Executive and a separate FAA AIP grant; John explained the two separate applications are necessary because some funding comes through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocations while other work is covered by the Airport Improvement Program. He briefed the board on the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) program and federal cap, noting "the PFC is ... a $4.5 charge" and that the airport realizes about $4.39 of each $4.50 collected.
Motions to accept both grants passed by voice vote; the transcript records the chair asking "All those in favor" and members responding "aye." Individual vote tallies are not recorded in the meeting transcript.
John said once grant offers arrive, the airport will proceed to contract award for the pre-bid projects and schedule work to minimize disruption. "Once the grant's issued, it's all on us to handle everything else locally," he said, emphasizing contractor availability and seasonal scheduling as determinants of project timing.
The board also received routine safety and operations updates: a recent FAA Part 139 inspection "went pretty well," the airport used social media to explain larvicide helicopter flights following tropical storm Debbie, and the airport's ARFF truck drew community attention at a local Water Festival.
Next steps include final FAA grant offers and subsequent contract awards; the airport staff also plans to present hangar funding and rate details to the county's Public Facilities and Safety committee next week for further review before any county-council action.
