Kingfisher Airport is set to undergo a major runway expansion that supporters say will be a major benefit.

Commissioners on Monday approved a contract with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for a $2.6 million grant.

The funds will help extend the airport runway an additional 1,200 feet to put its total length at 4,000 feet.

The move was made during the commission’s regular November meeting. Bill Reitz of the Kingfisher Airport Authority presented an overview of the runway extension plans.

Reitz said the extension would allow for larger aircraft to land here, eliminating the inconvenience for those pilots and passengers being forced to land at other airports and then driving to Kingfisher to conduct their business.

Newly-appointed commissioner Kaci Farrar made a motion to accept the contract and Debbie Burpo seconded it.

Mayor Geoff Covalt and commissioners Dawn Taylor and Kyle Mecklenburg made it a unanimous vote.

Jon Friesen, community development director and building inspector, then presented the benefits of the city hiring a GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping company.

If hired, a company would map the city of Kingfisher’s grid, which would help the city analyze information regarding troubleshooting of utility problems, resource management and development planning.

The project would include mapping of streets, water lines, sewer lines, man holes, valves and electric lines among other things.

City Manager Jim Thomas said that GIS Mapping was a “tool long overdue.” He recommended that the commission put the project out for bid as quickly as possible.

The commission unanimously voted to proceed with a request for quote (RFQ), which solicits several GIS companies to submit bids for the project.

Next the commissioners discussed the construction of a new changing/restroom facility for Shaw Park.

The low bid for the project was $75,000, submitted by Bollenbach Construction of Kingfisher.

The commissioners discussed the possibility of expanding the building to some degree to accommodate more people at one time, although the proposed size was adequate for recent tracked usage.

But because the usage of the summertime water play area was expected to increase in the future, the commissioners instructed Thomas to award the contract with the stipulation that it could be enhanced as he saw fit, with a limit of $99,999 to be spent on the building.

The commission also unanimously approved a Christmas bonus (incentive pay) for city employees of 5% of regular annual wages.

“You have a great team of dedicated and hard-working people here,” Thomas said after the motion was approved. “I have been very impressed with their loyalty and dedication to their jobs and community over the past few months that I’ve been on the job.

“I think this is something they will all appreciate and will help them have a nice Christmas with their families.”

During the city manager’s report, Thomas thanked the commissioners and employees of the city for their kind words and flowers sent for his father’s funeral recently. Thomas and his wife traveled to his parents’ home in Florida to help supervise and attend the funeral with his extended family.

Thomas said he was going to be present to answer all questions regarding city activities and plans from citizens of the community at a Kingfisher Chamber of Commerce hosted “Meet The Manager” event scheduled for 5:30 p.m. this Wednesday at the Kingfi sher County Fairgrounds ( Note: See related story on Page 1.)

He also announced that Friesen would be leaving his job next month as he accepted a job with Cimarron Electric.

“Jon’s been wonderful to work with,” Thomas said. “We wish him the best in his new job and look forward to an even better relationship with our friends at Cimarron Electric.”

In closing, he said he would begin the process of searching for a qualified replacement for Friesen immediately.

“I’m thinking we will change the job title description and responsibilities to some degree to include strategic planning, which is of vital importance in my opinion,” Thomas said.

The only decision to be made at the meeting regarding the Kingfisher Public Works Authority was to approve the purchase of two reels of wire totaling $26,500 from Techline, Inc.