New North Texas Regional Airport manager meets county leaders as $343,739 apron rebuild deal is signed

Grayson County's new airport manager says he wants to hear what people want the county's airport to become.

Kyle Holtz met with the Grayson County Commissioners Court on Monday, Oct. 5, according to KXII. He takes over North Texas Regional Airport/Perrin Field, which the Air Force built in the 1950s as Perrin Air Force Base.

Holtz told the station that community engagement is one of his main priorities. He laid out a range of possible futures, from growing with the businesses that already work at the field to scheduled commercial service in 10 or 15 years, which he said would take a lot of effort and community support.

"I was walking around all the areas and stuff like that, meeting people in the area. And it's just really homey," Holtz said.

County Judge Bruce Dawsey said the airport still has infrastructure needs dating to the Air Force era and that Holtz has already pointed out some things that were not built to current standards and need to be fixed. Dawsey said Holtz and his wife moved from Concord, North Carolina, and that he is hoping the hire brings stability to the airport.

"He's not just one of these guys that is looking to come here as a stepping ladder," Dawsey said.

South apron agreement

The same meeting carried the county's agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for one of those repairs: reconstruction of the airport's south apron, the paved area where aircraft park.

A copy of the agreement signed for the county and dated Oct. 5 was filed with the meeting record. It estimates the project's total cost at $343,739. Federal money, passed through TxDOT under the 2021 federal infrastructure law, covers 95% of eligible costs, up to $326,552. The county's estimated share is $17,187, and the county must pay any costs above the federal cap.

The Texas Transportation Commission approved the project Aug. 26, according to the agreement. It requires the county to build the project within two years after design work is finished, subject to federal funding, and TxDOT holds back the last 10% of the grant until the work is complete and inspected.

The county court agenda listed the item as the airport's second construction schedule for the south apron improvements. The agreement does not give a construction start date.

Sources

KXII

agendasuite.org

agendasuite.org

agendasuite.org