Foley, Ala. — (OBA) —  Foley's municipal airport is set for a series of upgrades following action taken by the Foley City Council. The council accepted a bid for drainage improvements and approved federal and state grant funding to help pay for the work. The project is one of several improvements either planned or recently completed at the city-owned facility. The airport, known as Holk Field, serves the area's general aviation needs.

The council accepted a bid from RH Deas Co. to improve airport drainage. The company submitted the lowest bid at $249,971. The council took that action on June 29, 2026.

The Federal Aviation Administration will contribute $287,000 to the drainage project. The Alabama Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Bureau will provide an additional $7,553. Together, the two grants are expected to cover about 90% of the total project cost.

Rachel Keith, Foley's airport manager, said some drainage work has already been completed. She noted that crews from the city's Public Works Department completed earlier improvements, but added that more work is still needed at the site.

The drainage area lies in the northeast quarter of the airport. It runs north from Peachtree Avenue to the Magnolia River, crossing airport property. Planned improvements include regrading the area, adding concrete sidewalls at the drainage outfall near Peachtree, and shoring the banks with rock where needed.

The council also voted to accept grants from the FAA and ALDOT to support another project. The funding will go toward the final reimbursement for an eight-unit T-hangar built at the airport in 2024. The city will receive more than $140,000 to complete payment for those hangars.

Looking ahead, the city is also exploring plans for a new airport terminal. The council approved a request for grant funding to replace the current terminal building. Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the city is not looking to expand into commercial airline service.

Hellmich was clear about the type of terminal the city has in mind. "When we say terminal, this is not going to commercial service," Hellmich said. "This is maintaining the current status. Our FBO is in a terminal that's been there for many years. We need this."

The FBO, or fixed base operator, manages day-to-day operations at the airport. The city wants to provide a new facility for that operator while replacing the aging terminal currently in use.