Board petitions state and federal aid for $500,000 airport terminal upgrades

The Richland County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt Resolution 25-1, a petition to the Secretary of Transportation seeking airport improvement aid to remodel and update the county airport terminal building.

County staff and airport committee members presented a two-phase project with an approximate total cost of $500,000. Funding was described in the meeting as roughly $450,000 from federal sources, $25,000 from the state, and a $25,000 local share split evenly between Richland and Sauk counties at about $12,500 each. The project includes a design element estimated at approximately $150,000, which staff said is mostly covered by federal and state funding (about 95%) with a local split of $7,500 (approximately $3,000 Richland / $4,500 Sauk).

Supervisor Williams and airport committee members explained the recommendation came from the airport committee and executive finance, and emphasized that the existing building "bones" are sound and that the work would largely focus on interior and exterior modernization and ADA compliance rather than demolishing and rebuilding. The board approved the resolution by voice vote.

Mark Hicks, identified in meeting materials as the airport manager, provided the original resolution text to staff prior to the meeting. The board requested staff place the project in committee materials and follow up with executive finance on next steps.

The resolution passed; staff will proceed with grant application steps and include the project in executive finance materials for coordination with Sauk County.