More land is being purchased for runway and taxiway safety improvements at the Carroll County Regional Airport, most recently at 1805 Connolly Drive in Westminster.

The Board of Carroll County Commissioners at their meeting Thursday unanimously approved the purchase of the 12.8244 acres and 8.71 acres for an easement at a cost of $650,000.

The Federal Aviation Administration will reimburse the county $585,000 or 90% of the cost, and the Maryland Aviation Administration will reimburse the county another $32,500 or 5%. This will leave the county paying 5% of the cost, or a little over $32,500.

The county has been purchasing property and easements near the airport for a runway safety improvement project.

In April, the commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of 0.1067 acres at 411 Pleasant Valley Road in Westminster, at a cost of $103,507.

The Federal Aviation Administration will reimburse the county 90% of that cost, and the Maryland Aviation Administration will reimburse the county another 5%. This will leave the county paying 5% of the cost, or a little over $5,100.

In October, the commissioners unanimously approved a $450,000 purchase of 1.7469 acres at 1531 Indian Valley Trail in Westminster, and land and easements at 1470 Pinch Valley Road for $105,497.

“The County Commissioners of Carroll County have advertised their intent to purchase the property,” Eric Burdine, deputy director of the county’s Department of Public Works. “The land is being purchased in connection with the Carroll County Regional Airport Runway and Taxiway Relocation and Safety Enhancements Project.”

The airport safety project dates to 2015, when the county, the FAA and the Maryland Aviation Administration completed an Airport Master Plan Update for the regional airport.

The Westminster airport’s new runway is planned to be 400 feet longer than the existing one to allow for aircraft carrying heavier loads. Currently, there is one runway that is 5,100 feet long.

The commissioners made little comment Thursday when approving the latest purchase.

The runway project is an $80 million project with 95% of the funding already approved by the FAA and Maryland Aviation Administration. The remaining 5% is financed through the county’s Airport Enterprise Fund.

The types of aircraft expected to use the airport during the next 20 years include medium-sized business jets, similar to the Challenger 605 aircraft. These aircraft typically hold from eight to 12 passengers.

There are no plans for large, commercial jets to operate at the airport.

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