The Ottawa City Commission on July 22 approved two agreements with Alfred Benesch & Company, the city's airport engineer, for extending Runway 17/35 at Ottawa Municipal Airport. One covers engineering design for $670,500. The other, for $11,848, covers survey and legal work to adjust property boundaries. The vote was unanimous.

KDOT has awarded the city $603,000 through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program toward the design phase. Design work can't start until the grant agreement is signed by all parties.

Public Works Director DJ Welsh said the design work includes surveys, soil testing, environmental clearance, FAA-compliant plans, cost estimates and help with bidding. KOFO reported that once design is finished, the city will look for money to build the extension, which would add 1,000 feet to the runway so larger corporate jets can land safely.

For details, see KOFO's report on the agreements and the July 22 commission minutes.