HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The process of selling the Obee School property is continuing forward with approval of the contract with HW Lochner to do the work to give to the FAA so that the portion of the building footprint that was technically built on airport property can be sold.
"We don't get any further in this process until we pay Lochner and they perform their work," City Attorney Paul Brown said. "That's what this contract is about. Lochner's work will actually provide us with the legal description for that tract. Part of what they do is reform the boundary lines of the airport, because that has to be substantiated to the FAA."
The city's third of the required survey by HW Lochner is $4,916.66 and they have to pay that whether the FAA approves the sale or not. The buyer and Buhler USD 313 will each pay a third of the contract, too.
"The council has indicated a willingness to proceed with this transaction," Brown said. "We've had attempts before. Here's the contract. We're hopeful that we can accomplish it this time. It is still subject to FAA approval."
Any change in airport boundaries has to get that federal approval. Brown had to deal with it once before when the city had to move 4th because of a need for more space related to controls at the end of one of the runways.
"When you change that or alter that, then you have to go through this process again," Brown said. "It has to be approved by the FAA. It mainly involves just proving title to all the various tracts. Then I have to issue a title opinion that Lochner gets and then the FAA receives that. It's quite a process and that's why you use an engineering firm to help you with that who is familiar with dealing with the FAA."
The motion to go forward passed unanimously on Tuesday.