Carson City Airport Authority crafts capital plan

Carson City’s Airport Authority adopted a five year capital improvement program Wednesday night, one that included a “wish list” item for eventual land acquisition.

Authority members voted unanimously for a program that includes doing an airport master plan update in 2017 and seeking $5 million in federal funding to purchase 20 acres adjacent to the current airport, though no particular acreage was discussed for that goal in 2020. Guy Williams, authority chairman, was the one who called it a wish list item because it was more than five years away. He had set up that addition to the program with a question.

“Is there any federal money available for land to avoid encroachment,” Williams asked. Engineer Jim Claque indicated it was possible and Steve Tackes, authority attorney, offered the idea of 20 acres and $5 million for the program’s final year.

The capital improvement items included: for 2015, design of north apron reconstruction; for 2016, the first phase of that project; for 2017, the second phase of that project and the master plan; for 2018, seal coating and striping of taxiways and rehabilitation work on the airport perimeter road; for 2019, work on perimeter gates and fencing; and the 2020 land proposal.

The bulk of such airport work is funded with federal money from the Federal Aviation Authority, though small local matching amounts are required.

Also on the authority agenda was continuing discussion of the proposal from Maurice White to develop short term strategic planning for the airport and coordinate such plans with the Carson City Board of Supervisors. There was a brief discussion but no action was taken.

It was White who had suggested earlier the master plan still be set for in 2017 in the capital improvement program rather than being pushed back to 2018. He looked at the last meeting and this one to move toward planning that may enhance development prospects on airport property, but he made no motion after Wednesday’s discussion.