Category Archives: Airport

Airport, Fort Scott

Fort Scott Airport Gets Improvements Inside and Out

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Submitted photo of the Fort Scott Airport runway maintenance was completed in November.

Emery Sapp & Sons, a Kansas City, Missouri  full-service heavy civil
contractor recently completed the Fort Scott Municipal Airport runway and taxiway improvements for the City of Fort Scott.

“This maintenance needs to be done every so many years,” said Fort Scott Airport Manager Seth Simpson. “I am very happy with Emery Sapp. They are easy to work with. I can’t praise their services enough.”

Seth Simpson, Fort Scott City Airport Manager, started duties in  Dec. 2018.

The pavement was completed ahead of schedule just before the Kansas hunting season brought increased air travel to the area, according to a press release from Sapp.

Construction began Sept. 11 and was completed 16 days later, requiring minimal airport closure.

The company used stringless paving technology to decrease the project schedule and optimize the budget for the city.  The stringless paver follows fixed points to control elevation and steer the paving, resulting in an improved runway and taxiway, according to the press release

Runway health longevity, construction schedule optimization, and decreased travel impact were vital to the City of Fort Scott, according to the press release. The publicly owned airport is the base of 18 aircraft, averaging 27 daily operations.

A sky crane stops over in Fort Scott on Dec. 18, on its way to Kansas City, from the airport’s Facebook page.

Other Projects

Simpson said the expansion of the runway is on hold.

“It’s a complicated project,” Simpson said. “You can’t get the funding because you don’t have the traffic. You can’t get the traffic because the runways are not long enough. That’s why it is so difficult. There is a lot more red tape.”

Simpson said one project the staff have been working on is remodeling the interior of the terminal, “To update to more current standards.”

The staff is comprised of Simpson and Bryan Matkin, who is the assistant manager.

Fort Scott Airport Assistant Manager Brian Matkin helps remodel a conference room at the airport. From its Facebook page.

“We have a pilots lounge where they can come in and rest and have a bite to eat or watch TV,” he said. “We are trying to find ways to make it more attractive.”

In September 2024, Simpson is organizing a fly-in at the airport.

“It’s a one-day event where a pilot can fly in for some food,” he said. “I am looking for some food trucks to come in.”

Contact Simpson at 620-223-5490 for more information.

 

Airport, Fort Scott

Invitation to Submit Bid for Hay Rights at Fort Scott Municipal Airport

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The City of Fort Scott, Kansas is soliciting requests for bids from persons who are interested in the hay rights at the Fort Scott Municipal Airport.  The contract will be for a ONE       (1) year period beginning in 2023.

 

There are 130 acres to be hayed.  Contractor is responsible for any damages to Airport grounds or equipment caused by contractor.  All hay must be baled and removed from the Fort Scott Municipal Airport property between the time frame of July 1st and August 31st annually.

 

Interested applicants should submit sealed bids by 2:00 PM, May 31st, 2023 to the City Clerk at City Hall, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas.

Airport, Fort Scott, Government, Kansas

Fort Scott Airport Receives Improvement Grant

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Governor Kelly Announces $11 Million

for 66 Airport Improvement Projects


TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that 66 airport projects across the state have been selected for Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP) funding for planning, constructing, or rehabilitating public-use general aviation airports.

“Whether it be airplane manufacturing, a link in the supply chain logistics, or travel, the Kansas aerospace industry is an essential part of our state’s economy,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These grants ensure the safety and longevity of Kansas airports, all while contributing to economic growth and job creation.”

The aviation industry represents over $20.6 billion in economic impact across a broad spectrum of supply chain and manufacturing industries in Kansas.

“Every mode of transportation is a link to the state’s economic vitality,” said Calvin Reed, Secretary of Transportation. “These airport improvements are a few of many important efforts to empower the aviation industry across Kansas.”

The KAIP typically receives $5 million annually through the bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE) and requires airport sponsors to participate in project costs by paying a minimum of 5% of the total project. This year, the program awarded more than $11 million to 66 approved projects, with a total project value of nearly $14.4 million.

The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation received 153 applications seeking a combined total project value of more than $66 million for this round of KAIP grants. Projects were scored according to impact on flight safety, economic growth, and regional benefit.

“We’re grateful to satisfy 22% of the total airport improvements requested this year,” said Bob Brock, Director of the Division of Aviation, Kansas Department of Transportation. “We look forward to new and ongoing partnerships with aviation stakeholders to achieve stronger aviation infrastructure for the future.”

Approved 2023 Kansas Airport Improvement Program projects:

  • Allen County – Replace Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS), $153,000; taxiway rehabilitation, $157,500
  • Amelia Earhart, City of Atchison– Construct automated gate, $42,075
  • Chanute – North apron reconstruction, $424,570; perimeter fencing, $180,000
  • Cheyenne County – Replace AWOS system, $153,000
  • Coffeyville – Crack seal and remark runway, $42,750 design, $229,500 construct
  • Colonel James Jabara, Wichita – Relocate/widen taxiway, $114,000 design, $800,160 construct
  • Comanche County – Preserve concrete runway, $19,000 design, $225,000 construct
  • Cook Airfield, Rose Hill – Used Jet A truck, $30,000; electric hose reel for MOGAS pump, $3,000; Parking ramp, $148,500; pavement repairs, $18,000
  • Jack Thomas Memorial, El Dorado – Replace fuel system, $10,800
  • Elkhart Morton County – Rehabilitate terminal building, $29,750
  • Fort Scott Municipal – Taxiway rehabilitation, $57,600
  • Gardner – Taxiway, $47,500 design, $99,000 construct
  • Garnett – Replace fuel system, $90,000; terminal rehabilitation, $15,300
  • Great Bend Municipal – Replace primary wind cone, $5,588
  • Harper Municipal – Replace fuel farm card reader, $21,250
  • Hays Regional – Pavement repair materials, $25,500; upgrade security and access gates, $21,250; ARFF station gate automation, $17,000
  • Hugoton Municipal – AWOS update, $5,700 design; $165,600 construct; fuel dispenser, $4,750 design, $40,950 construct
  • Hutchinson Regional – Install wildlife dig barrier for perimeter fence, $32,504
  • Independence Municipal – Airport rotating beacon/tower, $23,750 design, $112,500 construct
  • Johnson County Executive – Pavement maintenance materials, $13,600; southwest fence, $129,600; north fence, $156,150
  • Kinsley Municipal – Fuel farm card reader, $13,500
  • Lawrence Regional – Airport master plan update, $360,000; apron rehabilitation, $130,500 design, $800,000 construct; runway extension, $99,750 design
  • Lyons-Rice County Municipal – Fuel system. $23,750 design, $282,600 construct
  • Mark Hoard Memorial, Leoti – AWOS III, $163,764
  • Medicine Lodge – AWOS update, $5,700 design, $165,600 construct
  • Montezuma Municipal – Seal, patch, overlay and stripe runway, $792,700
  • Moundridge Municipal – Resurface runway, $720,000
  • New Century Air Center, Johnson County– Airfield electrical vault building, $89,300 design, $338,400 construct; rehabilitation of central portion of the west apron, $133,000 design, $800,000 construct; maintenance materials, $13,600
  • Norton Municipal – Replace and relocate AWOS, $153,000
  • Oakley Municipal – Replace rotating beacon and tower, $76,500
  • Pratt Regional – Apron and hangar area rehabilitation, $59,850 design, $653,400 construct
  • Shalz Field, Colby – Card station for self-serve fuel pumps, $16,200
  • Syracuse-Hamilton County – Replace fuel system, $66,500, design, $486,000 construct; replace AWOS, $121,500
  • Tribune Municipal – Remove telecom tower to mitigate runway obstruction, $72,000
  • Wamego Municipal – Airport development plan/master plan (phase II), $66,500; reconstruct apron and connecting taxiway, $468,000

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Airport, Fort Scott, Government

Sens. Moran, Marshall Announce 23 Grants for Kansas Airports 

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Roger Marshall, M.D. today announced 23 U.S. Department of Transportation grants for Kansas airports. These grants will be used to make repairs and upgrades to the airports.

 

“Local airports help bring economic opportunities and critical resources to communities across Kansas,” said Sen. Moran. “These grants are an investment into regional Kansas airports to make certain they are running safely and efficiently to support interstate commerce and travel to and from Kansas.”

 

“Airports throughout our state provide essential services and expand business opportunities for Kansans,” said Sen. Marshall. “Through these grants, each of these airports will be able to make crucial repairs and upgrades. No doubt, the improvements made will allow the airports to better serve Kansas communities, and I’m glad to see this type of investment in our airports.”

 

Grant Recipients

Airport, Fort Scott, Government

Fort Scott Airport Receives Grant For Safety and Security

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Fort Scott Airport.

Fort Scott Airport is the recipient of a Kansas Department of Transportation managed grant to help safeguard and secure the airport.

Thirty-six projects were selected for Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP) funding for the purpose of planning, constructing or rehabilitating public-use general aviation airports, according to a Kansas Department of Transportation press release. Fort Scott was one.

Seth Simpson, Fort Scott City Airport Manager.

“The grant will be to replace a gate and install an electric keypad,” Seth Simpson, airport manager, said. “This is the east side gate, near the fuel tanks.”

“The benefit to the public is less potential for loss, due to damage or theft or wildlife damage,” Simpson said. “The benefit to the airport is security and safety.”

Taken from airnav.com

On the horizon for the airport is runway resurfacing.

“On April 1, we will be applying for the grant to resurface,” Simpson said. “The FDA already officially, unofficially approved it.”

“Every so many years you have to resurface to maintain the runway, just like a highway,” he said.

There are currently two employees at the airport, Simpson and Bryan Matkin, a maintenance technician, he said.

Twenty-one airplanes are housed at the airport whose owners are from Fort Scott and surrounding areas.

The City of Fort Scott owns the airport, which is located four miles from the city. The phone number is 620-223-5490.

Taken from airnav.com

About KAIP

KAIP receives $5 million annually through the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, known as IKE, and requires airport sponsors to share in the project costs by paying between 5% and 50% of the total project. The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation, which manages the program, considered 145 project applications this year with a combined total project value of over $78 million.

“The aviation industry brings $20.6 billion in total economic impact to the State of Kansas,” said KDOT Director of Aviation Bob Brock. “The KAIP program helps this important industry remain a vital part of the Kansas economy. That translates into jobs and quality of life for the residents of Kansas.”

The selection board identified $4,968,161 in projects to address the most impactful airport improvements across the state.  Please direct any questions to [email protected].

Airport, Fort Scott, Government

FS City Commission Special Meeting Feb. 22

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There will be a Special Meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission held at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022.

Discussion will be the Airport Runway project.

There will be a work session immediately following the special meeting to discuss the prioritization of Lake Fort Scott projects.

These meetings will be held at 123 S. Main Street in the City Commission meeting room and will be broadcast on the City’s you tube channel. These meetings are open to the public.

Airport, Fort Scott, Government

FS Airport Advisory Board Seeks Members

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City Board Vacancy

There are two (2) openings on the Airport Advisory Board.

The function of the Airport Advisory Board is to advise the City Manager and City Commissioners on matters pertaining to the continued growth and improvement of the airport. Their recommendations are given to the City Commission for final approval.

If you have a desire to serve on this Board, please submit a letter of interest to the City Clerk, Diane Clay, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. She will then submit your letter of interest for consideration by the City Commission. All of the boards and commissions serve on a volunteer basis and are not compensated. If you would like more information on any of these boards, please contact Diane Clay, City Clerk at 620-223-0550 or [email protected]. Please submit your letter of interest by November 6th, 2020.