A Busy Year Ahead at the Airport

I was hoping to blog about something other than project updates, but with everything going on at the airport this past year and the upcoming year, I have more updates to share. In my last blog, the “Reconstruct Taxiway ‘C’ & Apron” project was scheduled to wrap up on November 2, 2025. The project was mostly completed on February 6, 2026. I say “mostly” because there are still some punch list items that will be finished once the weather is favorable. The project delays created some challenges for airport operations, but in the end, we are pleased with the quality of the final product and the improvements it provides for the airport and our customers.

I also previously mentioned the project to construct a 10-unit T-Hangar and the repair of taxilanes around existing hangars. It was previously reported that the project, which was to start in July 2025, was delayed until Federal funds were released.  By the time the funds came through, the bid hold period had passed by a considerable amount of time, and the contractor chose not to honor the original bid. It was agreed upon by all concerned parties to rebid the project. The project was rebid, and a different company was awarded the contract. The project is now expected to start the first week of April 2026, with an estimated timeline of 185 calendar days to complete.  This project will address our need for additional hangar space and put a significant dent in our hangar wait list. Federal funding will cover 95%, state funding will contribute 2%, with the remaining 3% being a local contribution. 

The hangar project won’t utilize all the federal funds that were secured for airport improvements, which is allowing us to allocate the remaining funds for an upgrade to our Precision Approach Path Indicator Light systems (PAPIs) on Runway 18/36 and Runway 14/32. We will also be adding Runway End Identifier Lights (REILs) to Runway 18. The addition of both lighting systems will enhance safety and visibility for pilots. We expect this project to start later in the summer of 2026. 

It's shaping up to be another busy year at the airport. We’re excited for the improved safety features and additional hangar space, which will support growth and increased revenue for the airport.    

Dennis Schmitt
Airport Manager