Airport in line for grant to update master plan

Kalispell’s Airport looks to be in line for a $95,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration.

That’s the word from Kalispell Airport Manager Fred Leistiko.

“We’re pretty much sure we’re going to get that,” he said Monday during a budget workshop.

The city would have to contribute $5,000 toward funding if it gets the grant, although it could likely defray some of those costs with $2,500 from the Montana State Aeronautics Department in the form of a grant or loan.

The $95,000 grant would be used to create an updated Airport Master Plan. The last one was completed in 1999. An updated master plan would determine the type of airport facilities that are appropriate for the airport based on current forecast aircraft activity.

Kalispell’s airport has the most economic impact of any general aviation airport in the state, Leistiko said, citing an FAA-funded study by Wilbur Smith & Associates. Fort Benton ranks second in the study.

“We’re preliminary approved for the grant,” City Manager Jane Howington said. “We can spend FAA money figuring out what we want to do [at the airport]. We haven’t explored all of the options for upgrading the airport.”

There has been some talk among city leaders about expanding the airport, which would require obtaining more land to the south.

The Daily Inter Lake has previously reported that landowners Randy and Debbie Wise have said they will not sell to the city. However, their house on Cemetery Road would not have to be purchased if the airport is expanded, Leistiko said Tuesday. Their son Randy’s house, also on Cemetery Road, would have to be purchased, however.

The council has previously said it will not condemn any private property to gain land it needs for an airport expansion.

It is rare that you don’t have to use eminent domain to upgrade an airport in accordance with FAA guidelines, Leistiko said, citing information from FAA official Gary Gates.

At Monday’s budget workshop, city resident Scott Davis questioned proceeding with the $95,000 grant if the city knows it won’t gain the land necessary for an expansion.

“Why take federal monies when we very well know we don’t have the property?” he asked.

Leistiko noted that with a new mayor and council, there is some hesitation, even though airport improvements and expansion plans date back to 1996.

The updated master plan would involve Stelling Engineers, who said it would cost $99,800, according to Leistiko, who has been airport manager since July 2005.

The city will likely consider accepting the $95,000 grant at its July 6 meeting.

Two larger FAA grants would also be available to reimburse the city for work already done on the airport expansion: one for $1,381,804 for asphalt paving and another for $1,492,755 for land acquisition, both on the airport’s north side.

The total price for the airport expansion is $11.8 million, Leistiko said, 95 percent of which would be eligible for federal grants.

A side issue is some $1 million of deferred maintenance at the airport, which Leistiko said the city could be reimbursed for if it proceeds with the expansion. If the city ultimately decides against this move, the maintenance could be paid for with $1.2 million in TIF funds provided by the airport tax-increment district that was created in 1997. Leistiko said the city has been planning on using the $1.2 million as seed money to purchase property along the south side of the airport.

Reporter Caleb Soptelean may be reached at 758-4483 or at csoptelean@dailyinterlake.com.