Airport board flags fuel hose leak, runway cracks and deer hazard after June inspections

Members of the Airport Board raised safety and maintenance concerns at their July 9, 2026 meeting, reporting a leaking fuel hose, cracked pavement with weed growth and deer on the runway while also reviewing June fuel sales.

Board members reported that 100 low‑lead fuel was selling at $5.70 per gallon; the transcript also notes comparison prices of $5.75 at Mt View and $6.08 at West Plains. The transcript does not identify which board member provided the fuel‑price figures, so the meeting record is summarized here in the transcript’s wording rather than as a direct quote from a named speaker.

Four of the six board members who inspected the runway noted a leaking fuel hose; the transcript says cracks were visible and were the cause of the leak. The members also flagged deer on the runway as “a safety issue” for aircraft owners. According to the meeting record, new striping performed by MODOT and the city looks good, but weed growth through the asphalt shows the cracks contain silt and suggests repairs made in October 2025 were not completed properly.

The board said it had expected consultant Benesch to repair the striping and the pavement cracks in June 2026; the transcript indicates that work had not been completed as expected. The transcript does not record a formal motion directing specific remedial action or a staff assignment at this meeting.

At a glance — actions recorded in the meeting record: the minutes from May 22, 2026 were approved on a motion by Hal C with a second from Tom Y; the transcript records the motion as having passed but does not provide a detailed vote tally. The meeting adjourned on a motion by H Robert with a second from Mike W; that motion also passed with no vote count specified. The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at 18:00.

The meeting record is sparse on named attributions for the maintenance and fuel updates: several operational details are recorded as statements to the board rather than as quotations attributed to an individual. The board’s concerns about the leaking hose, pavement cracks and runway wildlife were noted for follow‑up but no formal remediation motion or timeline appears in the transcript.