Board weighs AWOS and PAPI replacements with remaining IIJA funds; taxi lane likely out of reach

Airport Manager Jessica Ward told the board theres about $450,000 left in IIJA funding after reserving $106,000 for the fuel farm and that the remaining money must be used on eligible projects. She outlined candidate projects including an AWOS replacement (modern sensors to measure precipitation) and replacing the PAPI approach lighting units, which she called imperative because the existing units date from the 1990s and have recurring FAA inspection issues.

Ward said a full taxi‑lane reconstruction would likely exceed the available funds (citing a previous crack/seal project cost of about $765,000) but suggested the IIJA money could cover AWOS and PAPI work, and possibly an FAA obstruction/tower remediation depending on exact estimates.