Airport officials hopeful for runway project funding

Officials with the Libby Airport are confident that the county will be off the hook for funding a planned, multimillion-dollar runway rehabilitation project next year.

Tim Orthmeyer, a consultant for the Libby Airport Board, told Lincoln County Commissioners that unexpected federal spending this year has left the state with extra funds to disperse in 2021. The Federal Aviation Administration announced earlier this year it would fully fund projects receiving agency grants.

The move came after Congress approved the spending package known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security or CARES Act. Lincoln County benefited from the largesse with a new snowplow for the Libby Airport.

Typically, the FAA doles out matching grants, and the state and locality are expected to pick up a portion of the tab. For the snowplow, county officials initially estimated the cost of the vehicle at about $300,000. When applying for the matching grant, they expected to pay a portion of the total cost.

That changed in May. Not only did the cost of the vehicle come in less than expected — about $208,334 — but the FAA exempted the state and county from providing matching funds.

Orthmeyer said that leaves Helena with extra money for various airport projects next year.

“There is a high probability of getting a 100 percent match next year,” he told commissioners during the board’s July 1 meeting.

The project includes resurfacing and repainting the runway, repairing the shoulder and fixing any broken lights, according to Othermeyer. Airport officials plan to include work on the length of the nearby taxiway in the undertaking. The airport apron remains in good shape and does not require any work, Othermeyer said.

The project comes with an estimated cost of about $3 million. Othermeyer predicted the state would pick up the $300,000 match.

“It’s my understanding that you guys want to get this done with zero local matching [funds],” he said.

“I don’t see us affording $300,000,” said County Commissioner Mark Peck (D-1).

Bill Caldwell, chair of the airport board, told the commissioners that there was a chance the FAA may fully fund all accepted projects next year as well. Othermeyer said that still was up in the air.

In the meantime, he said the airport benefits from the state’s interest in maintenance and rehabilitation projects. They represent “a high priority for them,” he told commissioners.

As for the snowplow, Othermeyer said they expected the needed piece of equipment to arrive in October.

Airport officials approached the board with the request to pursue grant funding for a new vehicle in November. With the existing vehicle needing upwards of $30,000 in repairs, airport staff borrowed a plow truck from nearby Troy.

The loaner kept the airport runway free from snow during the relatively light winter months. But Othermeyer and others had warned that heavy snowfall would present a challenge. The rear-wheel drive truck from Troy would be unable to push the precipitation off the runway.

Still, Caldwell expressed thanks to Troy for parting with the piece of equipment.

“I’ll reiterate it again: We really appreciate the use of the snowplow this past winter,” he said. “We were just really fortunate we did not have a bad winter.”

Airport staff had since fixed up the facility’s original plow, which they plan to use as a replacement vehicle, should the need arise, Caldwell said.