Airport security discussed

Pilots who make after-hours stops at Portland’s airport now have more independence.
Those pilots may now pump their own gas and enter the terminal building at Portland Municipal Airport.
But with freedom, comes security risks.
Members of the Portland Aviation Board met Thursday and briefly discussed installing security cameras at the airport.
Hal Tavzel, airport manager, told board members he has gotten one quote for security cameras, and plans to get more. The cameras would monitor the inside and outside of the terminal building, the fuel pumping station and other areas of the airport.
Glynn Barber, aviation board president, estimated that a new security system could cost about $1,000. He said the main monitoring system could be located in Tavzel’s office.
The airport no longer has someone monitoring the terminal building and fuel pumping station during the night, since the city doesn’t have a fixed base operator (FBO). Former FBO Dave Miller is operating his business out of a hangar at the airport.
Barber said Thursday that he, city attorney Bill Hinkle, Miller, Miller’s attorney Phil Frantz, city mayor Bruce Hosier and Tavzel will meet Wednesday to discuss a new FBO contract for Miller — an announcement that came as news to Miller.
Miller, who didn’t attend Thursday’s meeting, said by phone after the aviation board meeting that he hadn’t been informed of the meeting about the FBO contract.
Miller’s last proposed changes to the new FBO contract were turned down by the aviation board. “I’m not sure what they want to negotiate with me,” he said Thursday. He added that he’s not interested in operating under a contract that requires him to pay the city.
Under a new proposed contract, city officials had asked Miller to pay to lease the terminal building and to pay a fuel flowage fee.
For 20 years, Miller served as both the airport’s manager and FBO under a single contract.
Tavzel was hired this year to replace Miller as airport manager. He works 30 hours per week and is not responsible for pumping fuel or being at the airport 24-7.
He said during Thursday’s meeting that the installation of the new pay at the pump system took about two weeks, but is now in place. He said a combination lock also has been added to the terminal building — giving pilots access to the restrooms, lounge, television and weather reports.
In other business Thursday, board members learned that most of the taxiway resurfacing project could be completed before the first snowfall.
Luke Reynolds of Woolpert Inc. told board members that construction is expected to begin in about two weeks and take about 20 days to complete, depending on the weather. He said the seeding probably will be done in the spring.
During the meeting, board members signed a $154,727 contract with Lica Construction, Berne, to reconstruct part of the taxiway and mill and pave the rest of the taxiway.
The project is being funded through Non-Primary Entitlement Funds from the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA is paying 95 percent of the cost of the project, with the city being responsible for 3.75 percent and the Indiana Department of Transportation paying 1.25 percent.
Board members tabled invoices from Woolpert for engineering for the project, along with work to design a new terminal building for the airport. The Woolpert contract amount for the taxiway work is $98,400, and $55,520 for the terminal building design. The invoices are going to be sent to the FAA for approval, then reviewed by the board at the next meeting.
Also Thursday, board members:
•Approved a total of $26,081.97 in monthly claims.
•Heard Tavzel announce that the airport now has a new phone number.
Previously, there was one number for Miller Aviation and the airport. The new number for the airport is (260) 729-5234.
•Learned that the airport sold a total of 900.83 gallons of fuel Sept. 8-29.
•Approved changes in airport rules for those doing business at the airport.
The changes spell out permitted actions for violators — including provisions on the recouping of legal fees. The changes went into effect Thursday.
The standards include requirements for those who have commercial activities at the airport, along with requirements for buildings, contracts/leases and aircraft storage.[[In-content Ad]]