What happened: Midland City Council met Tuesday, Oct. 27, and approved a $12.6 million project to prepare Midland Airpark for privately built hangars and a new airport emergency phone system expected to save about $1.6 million a year.

Council also approved buying 42 police vehicles for $3.4 million, gave final approval to several zoning changes and delayed a Walmart expansion over traffic concerns.

Key points:

  • Airpark hangar project: Council unanimously approved an $8.4 million contract to build taxiway access, extend utilities and prepare Midland Airpark for future private hangars.

    The project will cost about $12.6 million from the Airport Operating Fund. That includes $4.2 million for engineering and utility work plus a 20% contingency.

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    The city received three bids, all below the engineer’s estimate. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027.

    Private investors will build and maintain their own hangars under long-term ground leases, allowing the airport to expand aircraft storage and collect lease revenue “without using public funds to construct individual hangars,” The Permian Press previously reported.

    Aviation Director Justine Ruff said the city expected the construction contract to cost about $10 million, but the winning bid came in about $2.3 million lower.

    She said the additional funding covers contingencies and expenses that may not occur, including environmental cleanup if crews discover contamination on land that has not been excavated since the airport was a military base.

    “These projects are 100% covered by the Airport Fund. There’s no taxpayer money,” Ruff said.

    Ruff said hangar owners will repay the airport fund through their leases, and the hangars will become airport property when those leases expire.

    Mayor Lori Blong said the airport has a waiting list for hangars. Ruff said the city has spent about $40 million on Midland Airpark over the past two years, including replacing all its pavement.

  • Airport emergency phones: Council approved a $332,188 contract on the consent agenda to replace the airport’s aging analog emergency phone system.

The system connects the FAA control tower, airport firefighters and airport operations during aircraft emergencies.

Staff said AT&T has “dramatically increased” charges for the existing lines. The airport’s most recent monthly bill was about $145,000, or $1.74 million annually.

The replacement uses an internet-based system already operating at more than 60 commercial airports, according to staff.

City Manager Tommy Gonzalez said the new system will save about $1.6 million annually once the replacement is paid for, or about $8 million over five years.

Gonzalez said the city previously subsidized the airport by about $1 million annually but no longer does.

  • Jadan Kate subdivision: Council approved dividing 36.72 acres at the southwest corner of Jadan Kate Road and Elkins Road into six lots as part of the consent agenda.Earlier this month, the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the preliminary plat after city staff reversed its earlier recommendation to deny the request.
  • Horse-grazing rezoning: Council unanimously gave final approval to rezoning about nine acres near Breckenridge Drive and Woodland Park Avenue from single-family residential to agricultural estate so the owners can graze horses.
  • Walmart expansion delayed: Council unanimously postponed a final vote on a Walmart expansion at 4517 N. Midland Drive without setting a new date.During the first reading, Burkholder described traffic entering from Loop 250 as “absolutely horrendous.” The company’s engineer agreed to study adding a rear entrance, The Permian Press previously reported.

    Blong said council supports the expansion but wants a plan to address traffic entering and leaving the property included in the same agreement.

    A representative for Walmart’s engineering firm said the company may separate the expansion and relocation of its pickup area from a planned interior remodel.

    Blong said a commitment to address traffic “in a future phase” may not be sufficient.

  • Police vehicles and staffing: Council unanimously approved buying 42 fully equipped police vehicles from The Sewell Family of Companies for $3,366,369.17, below the $3.66 million budgeted.The purchase includes 32 Chevrolet Tahoes, seven Ford Explorers for detectives, two Ford Mustang GTs for undercover work and one Ford F-150. Staff said the vehicles will replace units that have exceeded their useful life.
  • Bus funding delayed: Blong removed a proposed $860,000 payment to the Midland-Odessa Urban Transit District, which operates EZ-Rider, from consideration.She said she had “substantial questions” and wanted staff to revise the proposal.
  • Road Development Ordnance: Council unanimously gave final approval to changing how much the City can pay for residential development to pay one-third of major roads along new subdivisions instead of one-half. Developers will continue paying the full cost of smaller neighborhood roads.
  • Other final zoning approvals: Council unanimously approved rezoning 1201 Occidental Parkway for a 207-unit, single-story apartment development, which passed 6-1 on first reading.Council also gave final approval to a Habitat for Humanity single-family rezoning on East Illinois Avenue, a duplex rezoning on South Dallas Street, an alcohol permit for Reyna’s Mexican Restaurant and four exceptions to setback and lot-size requirements.
  • Restaurant alcohol permits: Council unanimously approved permits to serve alcohol at Pitaya Mexican Restaurant, 800 S. Terrell St., and Fujiyama Sushi N More, 4410 N. Midkiff Road.