The Soldotna City Council unanimously approved two contracts totaling $3.8 million for airport improvement projects at its Wednesday night meeting.

City Manager Mark Dixson was authorized to contract with Wince-Byrson Consulting Engineers to create a 2014 municipal airport master plan, as the most recent one was completed in 2004. The same company will also finish the airport asphalt rehabilitation and phase three apron expansion project started two years ago by the city. 

The Public Works Department recommended authorizing the contracts after receiving two grants from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program that total $3.8 million, according to a memo from Kyle Kornelis to Mark Dixson.

Soldotna Mayor Nels Anderson expressed concerns about the hefty price tag.

City Engineer Kyle Kornelis said it had to do with the rising costs of construction projects.

The city also appropriated funding for educational materials that will be produced for Proposition No. 1 that residents will vote on at the October 7 Regular Municipal Elections. Voters will decide whether city public officials financial disclosure filing system will be localized.

City Council member Keith Baxter said he was concerned that the materials would be used, or written to persuade voters.

City Council member Linda Murphy said the advertisements and mail-outs would simply include the language of the proposition. She said the Kenai Peninsula Borough only includes information in their ballot pamphlets concerning Borough-wide propositions. The information on Soldotna’s proposition would be purely educational.

Kelly Sullivan can be reached at kelly.sullivan@peninsulaclarion.com