Chautauqua County is looking to make improvements to its airport in Dunkirk and stay in the airport business.

During the Chautauqua County Legislature meeting, county lawmakers agreed to accept a $133,654 federal grant to design the reconstruction of the Taxiway A East, including associated drainage and remarking at the Dunkirk airport.

The funding is from the Federal Aviation Administration and does not require the county to match any portion of the grant.

Legislator Robert Scudder, R-Fredonia, opposed the resolution.

In committee meetings, Ron Almeter, county airports manager, noted this grant is strictly for the design. The actual construction will take place in 2023 and will cost around $1.2 million. He predicted the county will have to pay 5% of the final construction cost.

During Wednesday night’s meeting, Scudder did not comment on why he voted against the funds.

During last week’s Public Facilities Committee meeting, Scudder asked Almeter if accepting this grant requires the county to stay in the airport business, which he was told it does.

“This is a grant being offered under the FAA’s airport improvement program, which comes with the 24 grant assurances that basically commit us to maintaining and operating the airport for the use of the life of the project,” said Almeter. “That’s the baggage that goes with a free grant.”

He did note that the county, in its operation and maintenance budget, spends a lot of money each year on crack sealing and repainting the airport surface. “With a capital project, that surface will have significantly reduced maintenance costs for the next 5 to 10 years as the surface is new,” said Almeter.

Scudder commented during the committee meeting that he struggles with the county needing to “stay in the airport business” by the accepting the federal grant and therefore wouldn’t support the resolution.

No other county lawmakers commented on the resolution during Wednesday night’s meeting.