Federal grant dollars could potentially provide the Warsaw Municipal Airport with a new terminal and other infrastructure needs, but the application is due within a week.
On Monday, during the Warsaw Board of Aviation Commissioners’ rescheduled monthly meeting, they approved for Board President Jay Rigdon to eventually approve a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) grant application that will be needed before the board’s next regularly scheduled meeting. They also approved an amount not to exceed $50,000 for advisory services for the application from CHA Consulting, the airport’s consulting firm.
The BIL is an investment in America’s transportation network, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website. It was enacted in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and authorizes up to $108 billion for public transportation, with the FAA getting a share of those dollars.
CHA Consulting Aviation Planning Team Leader Robert LaFayette informed the Warsaw Aviation Board of Commissioners Monday that CHA, on behalf of the airport, was “working on a BIL application to plan, design, construct the early implementation phases on a terminal area program. So what this includes is airfield infrastructure, changes to accommodate the development of a preliminary site layout and sighting for a new FBO (fixed base operator) and other infrastructure needs.”
An FBO is the main provider of services - such as fuel, parking and hangar space - at an airport.
LaFayette said CHA also was working on a supportive narrative for the BIL application.
“One thing that we need - to be able to put the airport in a successful position for some available funding that is out there now, and for the purposes of soliciting any type of additional funds - is coming up with a plan and a supportive narrative as to why we’re doing what we’re doing, and, really, what we’re doing,” he said.
They are working on some preliminary site layouts to the drawings of some potential development on the airport, as well as some 3D models of a new FBO hangar, new FBO terminal and some airport apron. LaFayette said they are working on that phasing.
This Friday, there will be a meeting with local, state and Zimmer Biomet officials and representatives to discuss the potential terminal area program.
“All this information will lead to a new terminal program application through the (Bipartisan) Infrastructure Law,” he said, noting that there’s currently no BIL number associated with it as the application still needs to be put together. “But a lot of the things that we’re working on now are pertinent to the application, will support not only the application but some potential solicitation afterwards.”
Airport Manager Nick King said when the BIL came through about a year ago, it was originally for primary airports like Fort Wayne, South Bend and Indianapolis. The FAA has now opened that up to all airports, he said, and “is for projects that would not otherwise receive normal AIP (Airport Improvement Program) funding.” He said the grant would specifically be for terminals and other infrastructure that would not otherwise receive AIP funding.
King said he asked CHA to put together a general services agreement that would allow the airport to use them over the next 12-18 months for applications and FAA information so the airport can position itself to be as successful for the BIL grant program as possible. He stated the agreement is not to exceed $50,000.
“Like Robert said, they are working around the clock right now. I’ve been to meetings with their team the last week and a half. The application is due Monday for the BIL, and so they are working really, really hard,” King stated.
He told the Board they are really excited to show the Board some of the ideas that they have. “To have potential federal money come in to pay for some of these projects that we’re looking at, we need to be able to best position ourselves so that we can really work to try to get some of that funding,” King said, adding that they’re cautiously optimistic but excited at the same time about the possibility.
LaFayette said a new terminal was one of the major projects that was on the list when the Board hired CHA as the airport’s consulting firm about three years ago, and the plan was always to try to work toward it through the runway program and then moving into some potential terminal stuff.
“We talked about that a lot over the last three years. There’s an opportunity now to put the airport into a position to potentially be successful, and we want to take that chance, essentially,” he said. “And so, the general services agreement that Nick is putting on the table right now allows us to do some of those ad hoc things for Nick, whether it be this or any of the other assignments that come through that may not be directly related to an AIP grant that are related to some more administrative items for Nick. So it really allows us to be more of that true consultant rather than just working on a project-to-project basis.”
Rigdon asked if the stakeholders who will be at Friday’s meeting are just going to be informed about the program so they can support it, or if they are being considered as potential funding resources as well. King said just ideas.
Board Vice President John Yingling made the motion to allow Rigdon to sign the grant application, with Board member Gene Zale providing the second. The motion was approved 3-0, and then they approved the $50,000 for CHA advisory services.
Later in the meeting, the Board approved the purchase of a 2003 Sterling L8500 from Truck City Sales Inc., Wayland, Mich., for $65,000. The truck - with only 60,000 miles on it - will be used for snow removal at the airport.
King said it has a Caterpillar diesel motor, Allison transmission, an 11-foot stainless steel plow and stainless steel box spreader for the back for the anti-icing agent.
“Normally, this type of truck, if we were to purchase it new, would be anywhere from $225,000 to $250,000 before lights and plows and all of that. That’s just for the truck. And we’re able to get the truck and the plow and everything for $65,000 - that’s with our municipal discount,” he stated.