Aviation board wants answers (1/20/05)

Portland Aviation Board members have decided not to sign a change order with a contractor, until company officials can explain why the cost of planting grass seed was so high.

The board voted Wednesday to have officials with Fleming Excavating of Decatur come before the board and explain why its original bid of $413,461 for its work on phase one of the taxiway extension project at Portland Municipal Airport has increased by $1,293.

“We want Fleming to come in and explain why the seeding was so much before we will pay them,” said board president Glynn Barber.

Mid-States Engineering project engineer Mike Evans said the cost of the project increased because there was a lot of additional seeding done. The taxiway extension project was completed in November.

Dirt was removed from a large area at the east end of the airport to help build the taxiway extension. Evans said the Indiana Department of Environmental Management would not allow the location where the dirt had been removed to remain bare. If left in that state, there could be erosion.

Evans said Mid-States decided to have grass seed applied instead of turning the large area into farmland. Evans said it was better to put down the seed because farming the area would attract birds.

After the meeting, Evans said Fleming charged $71.14 per thousand square feet for seeding the large area where dirt had been borrowed, and $77.81 per thousand square feet for other seeding needed. Evans said the price includes materials and labor. He said an average price is about $50 per thousand square feet.

Also Wednesday, the board:

•Signed a $71,999 grant payout request with the Federal Aviation Administration, and a $1,895 grant payout request with the state for phase one of the taxiway extension project.

•Signed a $29,613 pay request for materials and work, and a $41,475 retainer fee for Fleming.

•Approved a $4,700 pay request from Mid-States for inspection services.[[In-content Ad]]