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Elkhart Council approves $2 million-plus in federal and local funds for airport runway rehab
Summary
The Elkhart City Common Council approved two ordinances to move federal aviation funds and a city match to rehabilitate Runway 18/36 at Elkhart Municipal Airport, after staff and the airport director described the project as a reimbursable FAA grant prompted by safety inspections.
The Elkhart City Common Council voted unanimously on July 27 to authorize city and federal spending needed to rehabilitate Runway 18/36 at the Elkhart Municipal Airport. The council approved ordinance 26-0-26 to transfer $66,017.39 from the Aviation Fund to the Aviation Federal Fund, and ordinance 26-0-27 to appropriate federal grant funds to complete the runway rehabilitation.
Tanisha Weigelt of BFNS engineering told the council, "It is a reimbursable grant. So the total amount, which you'll see in your next appropriation, is $2,000,320 and $77,765 and 6¢." Andy Jones, the Elkhart Municipal Airport director, said the runway surface was last replaced decades ago: "It was in the 19 eighties was the last time that surface...which is 4,000 feet long asphalt was replaced." Jones and staff said FAA and state inspection reports prioritized the work on safety grounds, including runway surface condition and future lighting upgrades.
Councilmembers asked for clarification about matching shares and how reimbursements flow back to the city; Weigelt explained Elkhart’s share represents roughly 2.5% of the total project and that federal and INDOT matches make up the remainder. The council conducted roll-call votes on second and third readings and passed both ordinances without opposition.
The appropriation clears the way for construction and for later reimbursement to the city under the grant terms. Airport staff said subsequent grant rounds will address runway lighting and signage upgrades.
