Colby Council Advances Airport Growth, Traffic Safety Measures
May 5, 2026
The Colby City Council returned to City Hall on Tuesday, May 5, for its latest regular meeting, covering a wide range of items including economic development at Shalz Field, neighborhood traffic concerns, infrastructure updates, and new grant funding.
The meeting opened with approval of the consent agenda, which included a proclamation recognizing May 11 as “Colby Kiwanis Day” in honor of the organization’s 60 years of service to the community. Mayor Lee Leiker thanked local Kiwanis members for their continued contributions, highlighting projects such as improvements at local parks. Rick Dickman from Kiwanis expressed appreciation for the city’s partnership and support.
Under old business, council members approved the proposed schedule for the 2027 budget, which had previously been tabled pending state-level tax policy decisions. The schedule includes a key work session planned for late June as the city begins shaping next year’s financial outlook.
A major discussion item centered on the potential issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) to support construction of a privately owned hangar at Shalz Field.
Dustin Stephenson of High Plains Aviation presented an overview of operations at the Colby airport, outlining significant growth over the past two years. Services now include aircraft maintenance, fuel operations, flight instruction, and aviation consulting. Stephenson noted that nearly 30 aircraft inspections have already been completed locally, ending a 40-year-long gap in on-site maintenance services.
The proposed hangar, measuring approximately 170 feet by 100 feet, would accommodate larger aircraft and support future expansion, including potential charter services. Stephenson emphasized that the project could bring new jobs, increased fuel sales, and additional economic activity to the community.
Council members did not take final action but expressed interest in continuing to explore the IRB process, which would provide tax incentives to support the project.
Addressing neighborhood concerns, the council approved installation of stop signs at the intersection of Harvey Avenue and Walker Avenue.
Residents had raised concerns about visibility and speeding in the area, particularly near a curve on Harvey Avenue. After discussion, council members agreed to place stop signs on Harvey to improve safety. Officials also noted the possibility of reducing residential speed limits to 25 mph under new state guidelines, though no action was taken on that item.
The council approved participation in the 2027 KDOT Federal Fund Exchange Program in the amount of $72,386. By exchanging federal funds for state dollars, the city sacrifices a small percentage but gains flexibility in how the funds can be used—particularly for street maintenance and infrastructure projects.
Council members also approved Pay Voucher No. 2 to Midlands Contracting for $134,892.55 related to the ongoing 2026 waterline improvement project. The project includes replacing aging water mains and service connections, with additional street repairs expected following construction which is in progress.
Two separate cybersecurity grants were approved during the meeting. The first, totaling $5,000, will fund backup storage systems for the city’s water and wastewater control infrastructure. The second grant, totaling $15,000, will allow the city to replace outdated and potentially vulnerable security cameras while expanding coverage in key areas.
City staff noted that some existing camera systems have been flagged as outdated or insecure, making replacement a priority.
The council entered executive session to discuss non-elected personnel before returning to open session later in the evening.
Following discussion, council members approved a 2.5 percent salary increase for City Manager Ron Alexander and extended his contract through April 2027.
During reports and discussion, council members received updates on several ongoing projects, including upcoming mill and overlay work on College Drive and continued citywide cleanup efforts. Concerns were also raised regarding traffic impacts and property conditions near the Colby Event Center due to construction related to the Colby Community College dorm project.
The meeting concluded with no further action.