Future work projects at the Frankfort/Clinton County Regional Airport were revealed as the County Council held a Public Hearing for the 2027 Airport Authority budget October 20th.
Present at the hearing were Council members Alan Dunn, Jeff Chynoweth, Mary King, and Carol Price. Todd Corrie, Joe Mink, and Mark Mitchell were absent.
The biggest open question in the budget is the line for project matching funds
Plans for runway improvement and for demolition of the vacant former terminal building are included in the proposed actions. and the new budget contains a large line for local matching funds that could help pay for this work. Council member Alan Dunn, who is also an Airport Authority member, explained that federal grants for airport infrastructure usually cover 90%, with the state paying 5% and the local side paying 5%. The authority budgeted a large amount so the money would be there if needed, though it may not all be spent.
Runway grooving considered
Runway maintenance is planned for 2027 with the Authority considering “grooving”. In this process grooves are cut into the runway surface, which adds friction so heavier planes can stop in the same distance. “The grooving is kind of a poor man’s runway extension, if you will,” Dunn said. He noted it could let a couple of higher classes of aircraft use the airfield.
Old terminal to come down
Dunn explained that the Authority has told the airport engineer to put together a bid packet so the demolition can be advertised. “That building was starting to get some mold issues, and the cost to remediate the damage in there was going to be substantial,” he said. He added that tearing it down was the most cost-effective choice. The cleared site could hold a new hangar, or possibly, a flight training center in the future. However, no viable opportunities have materialized at this time .
Use by industry and community
Asked how many industrial park businesses use the airport, Dunn said use is occasional. He estimated about half a dozen companies sometimes fly in headquarters staff or emergency inventory. Council members noted that Purdue aviation uses the airport for training, as well as local business customers.
Speaking about the Terminal Building, Dunn expressed that “We really do try to utilize that building as a community asset and a community resource.” Because the airport is supported by a countywide tax base, the Authority treats its building as a community facility. Dunn pointed to the recent WILO Senior Fair held there with favorable feedback. The event was so crowded officials worried about parking.
Next steps
No members of the public attended this meeting. Officials noted that state rules require 10 days between the hearing and adoption. The County Council is set to vote on the budget Oct. 30.