Aeronautics Commission approves airport grants, omnibus approvals and a $24,930.65 Watertown fuel-tax payout
May 22, 2026 | 2026 Legislature SD, South Dakota
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The South Dakota Aeronautics Commission approved a set of airport grant requests on a series of motions and roll-call votes, including individual approvals for Rapid City, Tea and Vermillion projects, an omnibus approval of the remaining grants, and a fuel-tax funds award to Watertown Regional Airport.
Staff reported about 46 grant applications in the packet—AIP and IIJA-funded projects—with a notable number of revenue-producing projects such as hangar construction. John (staff) said state participation was restored to 2.5% state and 2.5% local on certain projects.
Individual actions taken:
- Rapid City: Commissioners approved Rapid City's funding request after a motion and roll-call vote; the motion carried.
- Tea: A motion to approve Tea’s hangar/taxi-lane construction request was made and seconded; the motion carried.
- Vermillion: Commissioners approved pavement work (taxiways, aprons) after a motion by Commissioner Court Eklund and a second by Commissioner Benner; roll call carried.
- Remaining grants: With no objections, the commission approved the balance of the packet as a single grouped motion.
- Watertown fuel-tax request: Staff recommended and the commission approved use of fuel-tax funds for pavement maintenance in hangar areas at Watertown Regional Airport in the amount of $24,930.65.
Commissioners also noted potential conflicts of interest on projects (Rapid City, Vermillion, and others) and handled those items separately as standard practice when recusal is required. The commission instructed staff to manage conflict-of-interest recusals and to provide project documentation when requested.
Next steps: Staff will track follow-up documentation requests and address any recusal procedures as grants move to execution. Commissioners asked that funding-policy items and a weather-camera practice policy be added to the next meeting agenda, and discussed modest scholarship ideas for technical aviation programs.
Staff reported about 46 grant applications in the packet—AIP and IIJA-funded projects—with a notable number of revenue-producing projects such as hangar construction. John (staff) said state participation was restored to 2.5% state and 2.5% local on certain projects.
Individual actions taken:
- Rapid City: Commissioners approved Rapid City's funding request after a motion and roll-call vote; the motion carried.
- Tea: A motion to approve Tea’s hangar/taxi-lane construction request was made and seconded; the motion carried.
- Vermillion: Commissioners approved pavement work (taxiways, aprons) after a motion by Commissioner Court Eklund and a second by Commissioner Benner; roll call carried.
- Remaining grants: With no objections, the commission approved the balance of the packet as a single grouped motion.
- Watertown fuel-tax request: Staff recommended and the commission approved use of fuel-tax funds for pavement maintenance in hangar areas at Watertown Regional Airport in the amount of $24,930.65.
Commissioners also noted potential conflicts of interest on projects (Rapid City, Vermillion, and others) and handled those items separately as standard practice when recusal is required. The commission instructed staff to manage conflict-of-interest recusals and to provide project documentation when requested.
Next steps: Staff will track follow-up documentation requests and address any recusal procedures as grants move to execution. Commissioners asked that funding-policy items and a weather-camera practice policy be added to the next meeting agenda, and discussed modest scholarship ideas for technical aviation programs.
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