The city is moving ahead with a planned expansion at Mosby Field, but not without some reservations on behalf of the council.

On Monday, the city council approved a supplementary agreement for engineering services related to the municipal airport project. The changes in the contract allow for additional project management, field surveying, environmental services and relocation assistance from the Bucher, Willis & Ratliff Corporation of St. Louis.

It is the next step in pushing forward a runway expansion that has been in the works for some time. The firm has been under contract with the city, working on the airport project since August 2008.

Alderman Les Murdock said that the city is “still waiting for MoDOT to come up with a decision on (acquisition of the Bond property) one way or another,” and asked Public Works Director Bob Baldwin for an update.

“I talked to our engineering firm on Friday, and it is left up to MoDOT on how we will proceed from here,” he responded. The Bonds “sent proposals to MoDOT, and they have to approve the appraisal of the Bond property. The ball is in MoDOT’s court now and we’re just waiting to hear what they say.”

City Attorney Kent Robinson alerted the council to two key issues going forward: He said that the feelings of the Bond family with regards to the acquisition of their land and also the city’s financial requirements to complete the project should both be taken into consideration. He did not offer his recommendations about how best to proceed, only that those issues should be looked at before making any final decisions about the airport.

Baldwin said the city is obligated to pay five percent of the total project cost, estimated at $400,000. The rest of the funds are being made possible through a MoDOT grant.

“My question is this: Way back there in April when we first brought all this up, most of us felt like we really didn't need to be doing this project,” said Alderman Don Conaway. “Every time we approve something it costs the city more and more.” He wanted to know why the city keeps taking steps forward on the project if the council isn’t completely committed to doing it.

“Potentially it does cost the city more money, but it’s only five percent and the rest is grant funds. The reason I asked Bob if the Bonds are on board with the expansion, and they are, is then we're not in a forced condemnation situation,” explained Robinson. “Are you willing to commit to the five percent match, and secondly are you in agreement on the Bond property? Those are the questions you should ask yourselves.”

Baldwin reiterated his belief that the Bonds are still waiting for reply from MoDOT officials to see if their property appraisal is acceptable for the acquisition. An agreement has not yet been reached between the two parties. If MoDOT cannot reach a settlement with the Bonds, then it would require condemnation in order to move forward with the expansion.

The Bond property must be acquired due to FAA regulations on airspace right-of-way clearance. Initially it was thought that only part of the property would be taken, but revisions to the plan required more of their land to be taken in. Lengthening the runway would allow for small jets to land and take off at the Cuba airport.

“This capital improvement sales tax that has been passed for the next five years—that is money that could be used for this (project), as the airport is considered a capital improvement,” the city attorney pointed out, “and if the Bonds say ‘no,’ you're still in a position where you can pull the plug.”

The council unanimously agreed to the amended consultant’s agreement, but did not commit one way or the other to completion of the expansion. Alderman Kevin Copling said he was personally opposed to using monies generated from the new capital improvement sales tax for the airport project, but he stopped short of voicing his opposition to the expansion itself.

The city has already cleared environmental issues related to the expansion. Once the right-of-way hurdles are cleared, the city can begin moving into the design and construction phases.

The city has already spent about $29,700 on survey and engineering fees related to the project. If the city does not agree to complete the grant requirements for expansion (committing to the five percent match), it would be liable for the entirety of expenditures to date.