Major improvements at the county airport received the green light at Tuesday’s Allen County Commission meeting.
Commissioners heard an update from Caleb Coltrane, aviation leader at Garver, the engineering firm assisting the county with airport infrastructure and grant applications. Garver, which has offices in Overland Park and Wichita, has played a role in guiding the county through the complexities of FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and KDOT (Kansas Department of Transportation) aviation funding.
“Today I just wanted to come and give an update on some of the projects going on out at the airport,” Coltrane began, outlining two major efforts currently underway: the extension of the parallel taxiway and the rehabilitation of pavement at the north end of the airfield.
Coltrane’s primary focus was the extension of the airport’s parallel taxiway to the south end of the runway — an FAA-preferred improvement designed to enhance safety and efficiency. “This allows pilots to get off the runway sooner,” Coltrane said. “It reduces the time aircraft are back-taxiing on the runway, which can be a hazard when other planes are landing.”
The project has been in the discussion phase for several years, but Garver’s involvement has helped the county develop a phased approach to move it forward cost-effectively.
INITIALLY estimated at $1.8 to $1.9 million, the project has been divided into two phases: one for earthwork, grading, and drainage, and the other for paving and lighting. “The dirt work alone requires building up areas about 10 feet deep to meet FAA standards,” Coltrane explained.
To cover these costs, the county secured a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) last year. With that funding, the $735,000 earthwork package — of which Allen County is responsible for $70,500 — is now ready to go out for bid.
The second phase, paving, is expected to cost around $1.1 to $1.2 million. However, due to a temporary increase in FAA grant matching — from 90% to 95% in fiscal years 2025 and 2026 — Allen County could complete the project with a local match of 2.5%, or about $25,000. Factoring both phases, Coltrane estimated that the county’s total investment over two years would come in under $100,000.
“This project, if phased properly, takes what could have been a 15-year, $200,000-plus county burden and turns it into a two-year, just under $100,000 investment,” he explained.
COLTRANE also highlighted a second project focused on the north end of the airport, where pavement has deteriorated significantly. According to a recent pavement management report by KDOT, the area has a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) rating of zero, meaning complete failure.
The $455,000 project will be covered largely by a KDOT grant, with the county paying 10%, or about $45,500. The project includes removing a failing angled taxiway, realigning it for improved safety, and preparing for the construction of a new hangar by Central Ag Air — a local agricultural aviation company owned by Matt Orth.
“This project not only addresses critical safety concerns, but also supports a major economic investment,” said Coltrane. Central Ag Air plans to spend over $400,000 on a new hangar and facilities. “They’ve consistently purchased around $45,000 in fuel annually, and this expansion could increase that number.”
The commission unanimously approved the grant agreement, allowing Garver and county staff to proceed with bidding. Construction could begin this fall, depending on contractor availability.
COMMISSIONERS and Coltrane discussed the long-term outlook for the airport, indicating the importance of leveraging FAA entitlement funds, which provide $150,000 annually. These can be banked for up to four years but must be used before expiration. Allen County currently has about $850,000 banked.
While extending the runway is not feasible at this time — due to lack of traffic justification — lighting and pavement maintenance remain on the list of future improvements. Taxiway lighting alone could cost between $300,000 and $500,000 and would likely require a combination of banked FAA funds and additional KDOT support.
Coltrane explained that while FAA discretionary grants exist, they are highly competitive and typically reserved for runway improvements, not taxiways. KDOT grants, though also competitive, have become more accessible since the state increased annual airport funding from $5 million to $15 million following an infrastructure needs assessment.
