By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Governor Laura Kelly announced last week that 58 projects at 37 airports around Kansas will benefit from $14.3 million in state funds through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP). The Kansas Department of Transportation's Division of Aviation received 135 applications seeking more than $84 million for projects. Airports in Pawnee and Ellsworth counties were among those selected, and Larned-Pawnee County Airport Manager Steve Gross called the funds necessary.
"We could never afford to do that without the state money, period," he said. "That's all there is to it. That's a pretty cool deal."
Airports had to match the donation with 10 percent of the cost of the projects. The Pawnee County Airport will receive $166,860. More than $41,000 will go toward upgrading the fuel pump, fuel filters, hose reel, and credit card readers for the fuel system. The brunt of Larned's money will go toward the replacement of the Automated Weather Observation System.
"It's obsolete," Gross said. "We can't buy parts for the old one now, so we're running on thin ice with that. We're really happy. We've never gotten any KDOT money before. It's going to be coming just in time."
The Ellsworth Municipal Airport will receive $675,000 for a taxilane project. Johnson County will receive more than $4.7 million for work on two airports, and the Gardner Municipal, Emporia Municipal, and Lucas airports will each receive more than $798,000.