Soldotna seeks to further develop its airport

  • By Rashah McChesney
  • Thursday, June 25, 2015 9:51pm
  • News

Nearly $270,000 in state, federal and city money will be used to further develop Soldotna’s airport master plan project.

The Soldotna City Council on Wednesday voted to use a $250,000 Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, grant in conjunction with matching $8300 grants from the city and State of Alaska to initiate phase two of the project.

The second phase will include an aeronautical survey and geographic information and modeling data.

Lee Frey, project manager for the city, said the city would be gathering land surveys and aerial surveys of the airport and adjoining land to build a 3D contoured map of the area. The data will in part be used to look at clearances for takeoffs and landings, he said. The city will upload the data into a geographic information system through an FAA database.

Currently, 163 aircraft are based out of the Soldotna airport, according to an aviation activity forecast report prepared for the city by Wince-Corthell-Bryson Aries Consultants LTD. By 2035, the company predicts that airport use will continue to expand and 190 aircraft will be based out of the airport.

Prior to the development of the 2014 airport master plan, Soldotna had not completed a master plan since 2004.

The city will use its newest master plan to devise a list of improvements for the airport.

The Soldotna council also amended its rules and procedures to codify a regular practice of postponing motions beyond its next regular meeting — a provision that is not currently established in municipal code and is in violation of Robert’s Rules of Order which the council follows.

The council will hold public hearings on a resolution to award $99,783 to PDC Inc., Engineers for a streets inventory and management plan and $213,334 to Alaska Public Entity Insurance for property, liability and worker’s compensation insurance during its next regularly scheduled meeting on July 8 at 6 p.m.

Reach Rashah McChesney at rashah.mcchesney@peninsulaclarion.com or follow her on Twitter @litmuslens

More in News

Vice President Kelly Cooper speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough considers seasonal sales tax rate

Borough sales tax would be modified from a flat 3% to a seasonal model of 4% in summer months and 2% in winter months.

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
King salmon fishing on Kasilof closes Thursday

If any king salmon is caught while fishing for other species, they may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Un’a, a female sea otter pup who was admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center in June 2025, plays with an enrichment toy at the center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center
SeaLife Center admits 2 seal pups, 1 orphaned otter

The three pups join the Alaska SeaLife Center’s ‘growing’ patient list.

James Wardlow demonstrates flilleting a salmon with an ulu during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge to celebrate all things fish during weeklong event

Fish Week will take place July 16-19.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School board finalizes budget with deep cuts to programming, classrooms

Multiple members of the board said they were frustrated by the state’s failure to fund education.

Former KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School district finance department earns national awards

The two awards are based on comprehensive reviews of the district’s budget and financial reporting.

Children leap forward to grab candy during a Fourth of July parade on South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska, on July 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy Sarah Every)
Celebrating the 4th in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Independence Day parade.

Fire crews respond to the Bruce Fire, July 4, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Alaska Division of Forestry)
Firefighting crews respond to wildfire outside Soldotna

The 8-acre fire and two “spot fires” of less than one acre each are located near Mile 102 and 103 of the Sterling Highway.

Most Read