The USDA Wildlife Management Plan and Part 139 Certification require construction of an Airport Perimeter Road. As Council will recall in June 2025, the project was approved.
The Professional Services Agreement with TKDA was executed in April 2025, to proceed with design on the Project. The authorization included fees for a cultural resources subconsultant to perform a Phase 1 Archaeological Resources Survey within areas disturbed by the project, which were determined by prior studies to have a high likelihood of archeological significance. Unfortunately, even though the subconsultant was on the State Archaeologist listing of qualified archeological firms, and for reasons unrelated to this project, they were never able to obtain the necessary license required from the state to perform the survey at the Mankato Airport. Licenses on public lands for archaeological field work are required by the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) and reviewed by the State Archaeologist (OSA).
As TKDA worked to engage a new subconsultant able to obtain a license, the FAA Airports District Office requested the scope of work be increased to cover all upcoming areas on the airport that could be impacted by future development projects included in the Airport Capital Improvement Plan. Therefore, the survey scope was increased to capture those areas so additional surveys or studies would not be necessary for upcoming projects.
TKDA engaged Westwood to provide the survey work, their proposal is included for reference.
The FAA determined an Independent Fee Estimate would not be required ($100,000 threshold) by the new scope of work increase caused by the amendment.
All work will be included in FY2026 FAA AIG grant and will be reimbursed.
