July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

City may take over fuel

Portland Board of Aviation

By Rachelle [email protected]

The city will take over the dispensing of fuel at Portland Municipal Airport if a contract is not signed by the end of the month.

A fixed base operator (FBO) contract was offered to Dave Miller of Miller Aviation on June 18, and he has not yet signed it. Miller has until Wednesday, June 30, to sign the contract.

But Miller said this morning that he likely won't sign the contract by the deadline because he has too many questions about it.

"I can't sign a contract that has 20 relevant questions pertaining to it," he said. "I can't sign it by the 30th. The contract is too vague."

Portland Aviation Board members voted Wednesday that if Miller does not sign the contract by the deadline, the city will begin making preparations to take control of airport's fuel operations on Aug. 1.

Currently, Miller or his employees dispense fuel for transient pilots. He said there is someone at the airport to pump fuel until midnight. After that, there is a number that pilots can call and Miller or airport manager Hal Tavzel, who also works for Miller's company, will go to the airport and pump the fuel.

An audience member, Max Landon, who works at another airport, suggested that the city consider installing a self-serve fueling pump.

With Miller's proposed contract, he would pay the city a fuel flowage fee of 12 cents per gallon for all fuel sold. He also must keep a record of all fuel purchased and pumped at the airport. Miller wrote up a list of questions about the contract. One of his questions is how often he must pay the fuel flowage fee to the city.

In the proposed contract, Miller would be allowed to lease an office, the conference room, the front counter and a maintenance breezeway in the terminal building. Miller has questions about the location of the breezeway, which office he could lease and if the public would also have access to the conference room.

The proposed annual payment to rent airport facilites for Miller would be $16,216.

Although Miller does not currently have a contract, he continues to operate his business there. Among his duties are giving flying lessons and pumping fuel.

Previously, Miller served as both the FBO and the airport manager and had one contract for both. Last month, board members voted to hire Tavzel as the new manager and new contracts were created.

In a related matter, board members voted to not make any improvements to the terminal building until they know whether or not Miller will continue to operate his business there.

Tavzel submitted requests to the board to replace televisions and furniture to enhance the appearance of the terminal building.

"I'm okay with furniture and televisions, but you need an office first," said board member Bob Sours. Tavzel said all of the offices in the terminal building are being used by Miller Aviation.

In other business, board members voted to use $43,417.25 of its Non-Primary Entitlement funds to pay Woolpert Inc. for design and survey work on a portion of the taxiway. A segment of the taxiway located near the hangers is cracked and has holes. Woolpert will redesign it.

The NPE money is granted to the city each year by the Federal Aviation Administration. A total of $150,000 has been allotted for this project.

Also Wednesday, board members:

•Voted to have the city's park department employees mow all of the airport property. Currently, only part of the property is mowed and a farmer bales the tall grass and sells it.

•Voted to pay Hinkle, Racster and Lopez $2,453 for 16.5 hours of work at a rate of $175 per hour.

City attorney Bill Hinkle's new contract states that he will represent the city at Portland City Council meetings. Any other meetings are considered outside of his scope of services. Hinkle has worked to draft new contracts for the airport manager and the FBO and has attended aviation board meetings.

•Heard several requests from Tavzel for purchases for the airport.

Board members voted to purchase a new rotating beacon from Ludwig Contractors, Muncie, at a cost of $6,885; and to have Jayland Mowing clean out and mow a ditch at the airport at a cost of $4,730.

Tavzel received two quotes to purchase and install a new jet fuel hose. Epic Aviation, Oregon, submitted a quote of $716, and Gasoline Equipment Services, Fort Wayne, quoted $985.88. Board president Glynn Barber suggested that Tavzel speak to the local company and ask for a price cut.

•Voted to pay monthly claims of $893.98.

•Tabled Tavzel's request to have Cook's Nursery and Trim, Portland, redesign the landscaping at the airport at a cost of $4,689.10.

Board members told Tavzel to get quotes from other landscaping companies.

•Voted to begin advertising soon for cash rental of about 15 acres on airport property.

The current contract ends in November.[[In-content Ad]]
PORTLAND WEATHER

Events

November

SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
27 28 29 30 31 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30

To Submit an Event Sign in first

Today's Events

No calendar events have been scheduled for today.

250 X 250 AD