The Yorkton Airport Authority has set out the work to be carried out this year under the Community Airport Partnership.
An application to the Community Airport Partnership program for improvements to the airport runway, lighting and drainage was made earlier this year.
A tender was issued in May and the results were reviewed by the Airport Authority at its meeting on June 16, 2011, Gord Shaw, Director of Planning and Engineering with the City told the regular meeting of Yorkton Council.
The budget for this year's program was identified as $400,000 to complete all of the elements outlined;
Runway and Taxiway surface repairs -- $70,000
Runway and Taxiway lightening repairs -- $280,000
Drainage Rehabilitation -- $50,000
"All of these components are eligible under the CAP program. The city received $173,000 from its application. The city allocated $200,000 in the 2011 budget as its contribution to this partnership program. If both amounts are included, the total budget available for this year's program is $373,000 which id below the estimated cost for this year's program," noted Shaw in a report circulated to Council.
As a result Shaw said the YAA has decided to focus spending on completion of lighting upgrades at the airport.
This year's contribution will mean that over $878,310 has been invested in airport lighting since this project began.
The crack sealing and drainage work is being deferred to the 2012 CAP program.
In addition the YAA was looking to the City to create some lease spaces at the airport.
"The Airport Authority has been dealing with lease space issues for at least two years. Lease space is necessary if the airport is going to have long-term success. Administration suggests there should be an inventory of at least two lease spaces available at any one time until demand requires that more be available," said Shaw's report. " Their price for this work was $224,035 to construct the lease hold area."
To fund the lease hold project Shaw said some funds are set aside for part of the work.
"There is $50,000 in the airport budget which is meant for the installation of utilities to lease hold areas. Administration has not reviewed this budget with utility companies to determine if it is accurate and reflects current installation rates," detailed the report.
In addition Shaw said some additional work should be carried out at the same time.
"This should also be the opportunity to make other needed minor improvements to the roads and parking lots. This work would be surface improvements only. This work consists of small areas of roadway or parking lot that require re-grading and fill to maintain them. This work is estimated at $25,000," stated the report.
The bulk of the funding would utilize an internal loan to the Airport Authority to fund the lease hold improvement but have a repayment term of ten years instead of twenty, said Shaw. The Airport Authority determined that the construction amount could be recovered over a twenty year period paid on a monthly basis.
Councillor Ross Fisher said the plan was similar to how the City works with its land development, paying the costs up front and then recouping those costs from future land sales. In this case the costs would be regained through a portion of the lease costs.
"Yes, in fact that is what we're attempting to do here," agreed Shaw, adding "lease rates reflect what we are investing here."
Council was unanimous in support of the plan.
