The Kenai City Council on Wednesday unanimously passed two ordinances to speed up the deadline to provide Kenai Municipal Airport with nearly $2 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration to develop a new master plan and purchase new snow removal equipment.
Both ordinances were introduced and passed during the group’s regular meeting on Aug. 7. The reason for this was because City Manager Terry Eubank said they were on a tight schedule for FAA approval. The federal fiscal year ends in September, he said, so “this is usually the time of year when the FAA is trying to pay out a bunch of their grants.”
According to notices attached to both ordinances, the city had to accept the grants by August 11.
The first grant of approximately $1.2 million will be used to purchase a wheel loader and a snow plow/spreader.
The federal government funds will be matched by local contributions of $79,000. Most of that amount has already been allocated, Eubank said, but the ordinance adds about $11,000 in local funds to reach the total. In addition to covering the local contribution, Eubank said the city will provide funds for contingency expenses.
The regulation was not discussed in the Council. The attached memo states that new and efficient equipment will support airport operations and “create a safe environment for aircraft and travellers”.
The wheel loader is purchased from NC Machinery for approximately $770,000. The snow plow is purchased from Bob’s Services for $440,000.
The second grant, for $718,000, is for the completion of “Phase I” of a new master plan for the airport. The memo states that a master plan is a review of existing facilities and traffic that provides a five-year development roadmap and a 20-year outlook. Phase I of such a plan would include a series of public participation analyses, activity forecasts, socioeconomic and financial assessments, facility reports and more.
The federal government funds will be matched by local contributions of $55,000. Most of that amount has already been allocated, Eubank said, but the ordinance adds about $7,000 in local funds to reach the total. In addition to covering the local contribution, Eubank said the city will provide funds for contingencies.
Master plans are a “key component” to obtaining grants, Eubank said. He said they need an updated plan to continue receiving federal grants at the same levels that Kenai has experienced in the past.
Airport manager Derek Ables said the last master plan was completed in 2017 – the projects in the plan are either in progress or already completed. He also said in order to receive grants, the airport needs a new plan.
A contract worth $729,000 will be awarded to HDL Engineering Consultants for this work.
Both regulations were introduced without objection and adopted unanimously.
A full recording of the meeting and the text of both ordinances can be found at kenai.city.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at [email protected].
