Members of the Ellsworth City Council authorized the signing of a new runway/taxiway scope of service agreement not to exceed $570,000 with Alfred Benesch Engineers — but not before they learned the Federal Aviation Administration had shortened the length of the proposed runway from 4,700 feet to 3,700. The city’s current runway is 4,300 feet.

Moore said the city had been awarded the $9,180,800 supplemental grant at 100 percent funding for a 4,700 foot-long by 75 foot-wide runway. However, in gathering data for the forecast analysis, a modification was made to adjust the runway and taxiway to keep the diagonal runway in place.

“We have to be flexible,” Moore said. “We just don’t want to change in the middle of the race.”

Moore said the new ALP (Airport Layout Plan) that Benesch plans to produce will show a runway of 4,500 feet long by 75 feet wide, which would allow King Air-size aircraft to utilize the airport.

Anything less could affect the local economy negatively.

Mike Olson, a local pilot, said his airplane uses 2,800 feet of runway to take off. For safety considerations, he calculates an added 50 percent to that (4,200 feet).

“To me, 3,700 is cutting into my safety factor too far,” he said.

Olson said if the runway at the Ellsworth Airport ended up being 3,700 feet long, he would have to move his aircraft to another base.

“That would break my heart,” he said.

Other base operators would follow.

In addition, Olson said he purchased 1,300 gallons of fuel locally for his airplane last year — dollars that would be lost if he moved his aircraft elsewhere.

Brad Waller, an engineer with Alfred Benesh Engineers, said it’s going to take political pressure from Kansas lawmakers to get the runway length changed.

In other business:

• No action was taken after a series of three executive sessions totalling 35-minutes to discuss matters of attorney-client privilege, specifically Moore’s annual review.

• A 2020 budget workshop was set for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 29, at city hall.