Board says no to project delay

Despite the contractor’s wishes, the taxiway rehabilitation project will begin as scheduled.
Members of the Portland Aviation Board voted Wednesday to proceed with the project, despite a request from LPI to delay it until spring. The project — which was expected to begin last week — has been delayed due to recent project changes requested by the contractor, said Mike Evans, landscape architect for Woolpert Inc.
Evans said Lica Construction officials asked to delay the start date because they were afraid they couldn’t complete the project before winter weather hits. Also, companies that manufacture asphalt are starting to close down their plants for the winter.
Evans said he was worried that if the project is delayed until spring, Lica might try to increase its price. If the board decided to push back the start date, Lica would have to sign a paper promising not to increase its price.
“I’m confident that they can do our airport project. I think that we should try to proceed with the project,” said board member Bob Sours.
“That area has been a problem area for awhile,” said board president Glynn Barber.
The work is expected to take two weeks to complete.
In the taxiway rehabilitation project, part of the existing taxiway will be torn out, then replaced, and the rest will be milled and paved. The total cost will be $253,127.
Evans said Lica has asked to reduce the thickness of the asphalt and to change the asphalt mix. Board members did not discuss or vote on any of the proposed contract changes.
He said he expects to reach an agreement with Lica in about a week.
The project is mostly being funded through Non-Primary Entitlement funds from the Federal Aviation Administration.
In other business Wednesday, board members reviewed drawings of what Portland Municipal Airport could look like in the future.
The board is creating a plan for the layout for the airport for the next 10 to 20 years. The two proposed layouts presented Wednesday afternoon include a new terminal building, with fuel pumping stations  in different locations.
In the first drawing — which Woolpert officials recommended the board approve — the fuel pumping area would be located between the current and new terminal building. There would be enough room for larger planes to fuel.
The second option wouldn’t provide as much room for fueling, but would still include a new terminal building. Both layouts would be on land currently owned by the airport.
Whichever plan the board approves would have to be reviewed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Board members tabled the drawings until board members Mark Franklin, who did not attend the meeting, and Jim Runkle could review the plans.
Also Wednesday, board members:
•Learned that city attorney Bill Hinkle has drafted a new fixed base operator contract for anyone who might operate a business at the airport.
Hinkle also said that he has created a lease agreement for a hangar former airport FBO Dave Miller is leasing. He said Miller wants to add offices to the north and south sides of the hangar.
•Approved monthly claims of $5,399.78.
•Learned that fuel sales at the airport are up.
Sales so far this month are $5,510.97 compared to $3,730.99 in September. Hal Tavzel, airport manager, said the spike in sales is probably due to the fact that he is now advertising the airport’s fuel prices on a few Web sites.
Tavzel added that NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth landed at the airport for fuel last weekend.
•Voted to allow Tavzel to choose someone to plow snow this winter at the airport.
Tavzel had three quotes to remove snow from the runway and taxiway. The lowest quote came from Dustin “Dusty” Howell at $55 per hour if he uses a smaller truck and $100 per hour if he uses a larger one. He also received quotes from Jayland Mowing of $60 per hour for the smaller truck and $100 for the larger truck; and A. Landon Excavating of $75 per hour for the small truck and $125 per hour for the large truck.
Board members suggested that Tavzel chose Howell. Dave Miller used to plow the snow in the winter when he was the airport’s FBO.[[In-content Ad]]