Jefferson City airport, Capital View Levee projects seek funding

SEPTEMBER 2019 PHOTO: Electricians work to run electric service to the trailer in front of the airport terminal so Ron Craft, manager of Jefferson City Memorial Airport, is able to work on the grounds of the airport again.
SEPTEMBER 2019 PHOTO: Electricians work to run electric service to the trailer in front of the airport terminal so Ron Craft, manager of Jefferson City Memorial Airport, is able to work on the grounds of the airport again.

Jefferson City Memorial Airport staff plan to pursue funds to replace the airport's terminal building.

Massive flood damage to the airport, which is located in Callaway County, closed the terminal in May. To move forward on constructing a new terminal and demolishing the current structure, a feasibility study would determine plans for the airport's future.

In August, airport staff recommended the terminal building be demolished.

City engineers are obtaining bids for an asbestos inspection of the building, which would need to be conducted to repair or demolish the building, Jefferson City Engineer David Bange said.

"Once the building has been inspected, we will know whether or not there is asbestos present," Bange said. "If there is, we will need to remediate it. Oftentimes, that remediation happens as part of the overall demolition. So for now, we are on step one of a multi-step process."

Bids close Tuesday, Bange said.

If the current terminal is not demolished, it would need to be raised about 9 feet to meet the Federal Emergency Management Agency's structural improvement rule, Bange said. Structures in a floodplain can't make improvements that exceed 50 percent of the structure's value.

"It doesn't make any sense for us to do that with the current building given the fact that it's flooded numerous times," Bange said. "The manner of its construction doesn't really allow for that to happen easily."

Another challenge is funding the project. Callaway County has not been declared part of the presidential disaster declaration to receive public assistance for repairs.

"Ultimately, we're hopeful that Callaway County will be declared a disaster county by FEMA," Bange said. "With that, we would imagine there could be an opportunity for some funding from FEMA/SEMA."

Jefferson City Public Works Operations Director Britt Smith told the Jefferson City Public Works and Planning Committee on Thursday there are Missouri Department of Transportation grant funds available for a feasibility study to determine if a new terminal building could be built.

Two companion bills to allocate funds for the city's portion of the $45,400 feasibility study will be presented to the Jefferson City Council during its meeting at 6 p.m. Monday. The city would be responsible for a 10 percent match, which would come from the capital improvement sales tax.

"Through MoDOT, we have grant funds that will cover 90 percent of that cost," Smith said.

The information gathered will determine the potential cost estimates of building a new terminal, schematics of a terminal and where it would be placed, Jefferson City Department of Public Works Director Matt Morasch said.

A public comment process would follow the study to gather input on the location and look, he added.

"That gets you your estimates and sets you up so hopefully you can go ahead and say, 'OK, everybody is on board, let's do that,'" Morasch said. "It also puts you in a better position to apply for some grants to help with construction."

The city is in a contract with Jviaton and hopes to hire the firm for the planning, Morasch said.

The organization would more than likely consider multiple locations and uses for the terminal, he added.

Staff have mentioned ideas of a potential two-story terminal with room for aircraft or storage on the first floor. Other options include restaurants or training facilities, Morasch said.

"The two bills that will be on Monday night's council meeting will be a supplemental agreement with our consultant to do the work and a grant agreement with MoDOT to cover that," Smith said.

If approved, the amendment changes would give Jviation an extension to Dec. 31 to complete the project.

An additional MoDOT emergency grant could be used to address corrosion in the field light fixtures. The issue is causing the department to burn through light bulbs quickly, Smith said.

The Capital View Levee District has been working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address rehab work. The cost of rebuilding levees is split 80-20 between the federal government and local levee sponsors, respectively, Smith said.

Damage estimates and field assessments have also been completed, he added.

The department has heard from the State Emergency Management Agency on a bill that could provide as much as 20 percent assistance.

"Funding is coming in line with the repairs," Smith said. "It's just a matter of getting approval through the Corps of Engineers."

The airport established an on-site trailer for temporary office space and is working on restoration at the maintenance building, Smith announced Thursday.

In other business Thursday, the committee agreed to begin working on an agreement with Cole County for maintaining the Algoa Railroad Spur.

The railroad needs significant repairs that would cost an estimated $150,000, Bange said.

Currently, the county is responsible for track maintenance, and the city handles upkeep of the crossing and insections. The rail was extended to serve businesses in the area, and the city became involved when it crossed Militia Drive.

The exact wording of an agreement has not been drafted, but the city and county would split costs. The departments would use joint city/county Sales Tax G funds.