Airport plan adopted

A plan for the next five years for Portland Municipal Airport has been approved.
Members of the Portland Aviation Board voted Wednesday to approve a capital improvement program for the airport. The plan is for 2011-2016 and includes projects such as a new fueling area, a new terminal building and the taxiway and runway extension projects.
The first project listed on the plan is the new fueling area. Board members agreed that this project is a priority.
Board member Bob Sours said the underground fuel tanks are 30 years old and should be replaced soon.
“I think it definitely needs to be updated,” said board member Jim Runkle.
Plans call for the new fueling area to be funded by Non-Primary Entitlement Funds. Each year, the airport is given a $150,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration. The city has banked four years worth of grant money. The plan approved Wednesday estimates the cost of creating a “fuel farm” at $422,000.
Also in the plan are three phases of airport improvements — including a new terminal building, new t-hangars, a new apron and executive hangars.
The runway and taxiway extension projects — which have been discussed by the board since 2002 — are listed as the last two projects in the plan. Plans call for each to be extended west by 1,000 feet. Attempts to reach purchase price agreements on the land needed for the projects have been unsuccessful.
The CIP will now be submitted to the FAA.
In other business, a new board president was chosen.
Bob Sours replaces Glynn Barber, who has served as president for a total of about six years. Barber nominated Sours for the position. Jim Runkle was also named vice president. Board member Mark Franklin did not attend the meeting.
Also Wednesday, board members:
•Learned that the airport sold a total of 482.79 gallons of fuel in December and has sold 152.65 gallons so far this month.
•Approved $7,635.15 in monthly claims.[[In-content Ad]]