WINTERSVILLE — As federal dollars near their expiration, the Jefferson County Regional Airport Authority doubled down Thursday on its plans to construct a new taxiway at the Geary A. Bates Jefferson County Airpark.

That consensus was reached during the board’s regular meeting, which followed a virtual meeting with representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration. The meeting gave the board a chance to update the FAA on the airport’s five-year plan.

After the FAA meeting, Lance Wanamaker of Michael Baker International, the board’s engineering consultant, reported that one of his “big takeaways” is not letting the board’s $150,000 to $180,000 in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law/Airport Infrastructure Grant funds expire. Funds received in 2022 must either be spent or allocated into a grant by next year, he said.

Wanamaker noted the board’s plan to construct a new taxiway that runs parallel to the airport’s runway. Constructing a parallel taxiway is the board’s biggest priority, with its Airport Capital Improvement Plan outlining hopes to begin construction at the runway’s northwest end before finishing at the southeast end by 2029.

However, the FAA seemingly wants to push the taxiway project back a year because the airport recently received a large sum of discretionary funding, Wanamaker said. If the project is pushed back a year, he added, that may come too late for the board to use those BIL/AIP funds.

Wanamaker’s suggestion was to break off a piece of the project and get it resolved early using unexpired funds. Specifically, the project’s electrical portion would be targeted, Wanamaker said, because that tends to lag up to a year.

“Maybe what we do is just put the electrical portion of the design out first so that it can be awarded, the contract can be given and they can actually order the material, so that maybe there’s a chance the material is on-site when they get around the building the taxiway the year after.”

Referencing an earlier question from an FAA representative, Wanamaker asked board members what they would want done with the money, in case his proposal can’t come to fruition.

Board member Rich Stenzel said the board should reinforce its desire for the taxiway, calling it “priority No. 1.” Not only would a taxiway allow planes to safely travel between the runway and other points in the airport without disrupting other runway operations, it would also open up space for future development.

“That opens (the airport) up for hangar development,” Stenzel said. “That is what we want. … This is priority No. 1 for us.”

With the board in agreement, Wanamaker said he’ll push to have the taxiway project accepted.

Separately, the board voted to withhold payment from a contractor until it finishes a job, while looking for alternatives that might pick up where the original left off.

Airport manager Brian Thaxton reported that Advanced Fuel Systems was contracted to clean out a 4,000-gallon fuel tank. So far, he said, workers have cut away the tank’s top and attached a new access port.

Thaxton claimed workers intended to return and cut a hole to de-fume and clean the tank, but they never did and said they couldn’t do it anymore for a number of reasons. Thus, Thaxton said he’s losing faith in the company and has been searching for others to finish the job, though none have turned up.

Board member Geno Morelli encouraged Thaxton to consult with the State Fire Marshal or contact fuel tank removal providers, who must clean tanks as part of their duties.

Board President Brandon Reese suggested the board withhold Advanced fuel Systems’ pay until workers finish the job, while Thaxton searches for alternatives. If an alternative is found, Reese said the original company will only be paid for what it accomplished.

In other business:

• Wanamaker reported that the Jefferson County Commissioners executed the contract with Estherlee Fence Co. Inc. for constructing the airport’s wildlife exclusion fence. The company, he said, has been given administrative notice to proceed, so conversations will soon shift to scheduling.

• The board approved Secretary-Treasurer Gary Folden to send a letter to the county’s IT committee, requesting permission to extend Wi-Fi service toward the airport’s southeast end. Service has already been extended — using an antenna atop the Ralph Freshwater Terminal — to the northwest ramp. A Wi-Fi connection allows jet pilots to update their planes’ electronic systems while on the ramp.

• Thaxton reported there were 1,030 operations at the airport in September, as well as 4,623 gallons of jet fuel sold and 1,343 gallons of avgas. Additionally, he said the airport has two empty Tee hangars.

• The airport’s wind cone is in the process of being moved to its new location by the rotating beacon, Thaxton reported.