Miller: Negotiations are over

A rural Portland man who has operated a business at Portland Municipal Airport for 20 years, says he is finished trying to negotiate a contract with the city.
Proposed changes to a contract for Miller Aviation to operate a business at the airport were rejected this morning by the Portland Aviation Board.
Board president Glynn Barber said after the meeting that the city is still willing to negotiate the fixed base operator contract with business owner Dave Miller. However, Miller said after the meeting that he is done negotiating.
The city set a deadline of Sept. 1 for Miller and the aviation board to agree on a new contract. Because the deadline was not met, Miller was ordered to vacate the terminal building.
He had been operating his business out of that building for several years.
Miller said he has since moved his operations to one of the hangars at the airport. Because he has run out of room, he has moved some of his airplanes to other airports.
Barber said after the meeting that he believes the city could find another company willing to run its operations at the airport.
Miller’s attorney, Phil Frantz, submitted proposed changes to the FBO contract on Sept. 2. In this second revision to the city’s proposed contract, Miller asked to pay no fuel flowage fee, but to pay the city $10,000 per year to help with airport costs. He previously asked to pay a 3-cent per gallon fuel flowage fee, while the city requested 12 cents per gallon. The city has never had a fuel flowage fee.
Miller also proposed that he would continue to oversee the fuel pumps.
Barber said this morning that the board of aviation has approved a 12 cent per gallon flowage fee, or city tax, on all aviation fuel sold at the airport.
He said after the meeting he plans to continue to operate his business at the airport, even though he no longer has possession of the terminal building.
After proposed changes by Miller were rejected by the board, he asked if he could lease the breezeway at the terminal building. Miller would like to use the area for his office. He asked to lease the 1,323-square-foot area at a rate of $1.50 per square foot, which would total $1,984.50 per year.
Board member Bob Sours said he would have no problem with Miller leasing the breezeway, but the computer for the city’s new pay at the pump credit card machine will be located in that area.
Barber said Miller should take into consideration the fact that in the future, someone else might want to operate a business out of the terminal building and would need the breezeway area.
“If you get a new FBO I’d move out of it immediately,” Miller said.
Miller also said he would be interested in renting the maintenance building at the same rate per square foot.
Board members tabled the matter until Miller submits written proposals for both requests and the city can draft a lease agreement.
The matter is expected to be discussed again at the board’s next meeting Sept. 29 at 3:30 p.m.
If Miller cannot lease either the breezeway or the maintenance building, he would like to build an addition to one of the hangars for a new office.
Miller made this request earlier this year.
Board members also tabled this request this morning.
City attorney Bill Hinkle said Miller should give the city detailed plans before the board can make a decision.[[In-content Ad]]