The Emporia City Commission received new information at Wednesday’s study session regarding potential costs associated with a proposed extension of the Emporia Municipal Airport runway.
The Federal Aviation Administration requires a 5,500-foot runway to accommodate 75 percent of aircraft. Currently, the runway is about 4,900 feet long and the cost of extending it would be about $73,000 which would be matched 90 percent by the federal government. Due to its proximity to the Emporia Golf Course though, any extension also would mean necessary alterations to the golf course. Emporia Public Works Director Frank Abart provided the current cost estimates.
Those figures came from FAA consultant Mike Waller and Kansas City-based golf course architect Todd Clark. Course improvements would include moving four holes to the west of the runway and making course improvements on the back nine, done in the first two phases.
Mayor Danny Giefer says they knew the cost would likely be expensive but says even though the city is not required to take on the project, there are benefits to extending the runway.
Giefer says city commissioners still have a lot more information to collect before taking a direction on the expansion of the runway. Once that decision is made, work could potentially begin later this year and into 2019 with the runway project anticipating completion by 2021 or 2022.
Separately, city commissioners discussed potential upgrades to the fuel station for the airport. They also discussed two bids that came in for sale of property at 502 State Street. A $3,500 bid from a neighbor to the north of the property. A $4,000 bid also came in with the bidder looking to build a duplex on the site. However, there are concerns about the possibility of whether the property could support such a project due to its size.
In addition, Mayor Giefer will attend a special tree planting ceremony for Arbor Day at 10 a.m. Thursday. The ceremony will take place at C of E Park.
