July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Runway prep work continues (3/21/09)
Board still pursuing grant $$
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
Work to acquire land and secure funding for the expansion of the runway and taxiway at Portland Municipal Airport continues.
Members of the Portland Aviation Board met Friday and discussed the status of the extension projects, which would make the runway and taxiway each 5,000-feet long. The city has not yet acquired the land needed for the expansions.
Glynn Barber, board president, has been working to collect letters to show why the expansions are needed. The city must show the need for the expansion projects in order to secure funding from the Federal Aviation Administration. Barber said Friday that he has collected some letters from businesses, but still needs more.
The city also must show the need by reporting how many landings and takeoffs there are per year. The city needs to have a total of 500 landings and takeoffs per year of aircraft that weigh 12,500 pounds or more. Last year, there were only 36.
"You are 464 away from where you've got to be," said Mike Evans, phase task manager for Woolpert Inc. "Right now, you've gotta pull a rabbit out of a hat, so to speak."
Barber said after the meeting that it is difficult for aircraft that size to use Portland's airport because the runways and taxiways are only 4,000 feet long. He said he is hoping the justification letters will help convince FAA officials that the expansions are needed.
The goal of the runway and taxiway expansions is to accommodate larger planes.
In a related matter Friday, Evans told Barber and board secretary Darrell Borders that if the city wants to be reimbursed for the purchase of the land needed for the extension projects, the property should be acquired soon. Board members Mark Franklin and Jim Runkle did not attend the meeting.
Evans said there currently are funds available to purchase the 55 acres needed for the projects. The airport typically receives an annual grant of $150,000, and there currently is $474,500 in unused funds available from previous years. If the city wants to be reimbursed for the land purchases, the FAA must be notified by May 1, and the acquisitions must be completed by about mid-August, he said.
The city has made puchase offers for the land in the past, but the offers were not accepted by the landowners - Charles "Chuck" Shreeve and Justin Schafer.
Also Friday, board members decided to hold an executive session to discuss a new three-year contract with Dave Miller to manage the airport.
The most recent contract expired in December, Barber said. The date and time of the executive session have not been set.[[In-content Ad]]
Members of the Portland Aviation Board met Friday and discussed the status of the extension projects, which would make the runway and taxiway each 5,000-feet long. The city has not yet acquired the land needed for the expansions.
Glynn Barber, board president, has been working to collect letters to show why the expansions are needed. The city must show the need for the expansion projects in order to secure funding from the Federal Aviation Administration. Barber said Friday that he has collected some letters from businesses, but still needs more.
The city also must show the need by reporting how many landings and takeoffs there are per year. The city needs to have a total of 500 landings and takeoffs per year of aircraft that weigh 12,500 pounds or more. Last year, there were only 36.
"You are 464 away from where you've got to be," said Mike Evans, phase task manager for Woolpert Inc. "Right now, you've gotta pull a rabbit out of a hat, so to speak."
Barber said after the meeting that it is difficult for aircraft that size to use Portland's airport because the runways and taxiways are only 4,000 feet long. He said he is hoping the justification letters will help convince FAA officials that the expansions are needed.
The goal of the runway and taxiway expansions is to accommodate larger planes.
In a related matter Friday, Evans told Barber and board secretary Darrell Borders that if the city wants to be reimbursed for the purchase of the land needed for the extension projects, the property should be acquired soon. Board members Mark Franklin and Jim Runkle did not attend the meeting.
Evans said there currently are funds available to purchase the 55 acres needed for the projects. The airport typically receives an annual grant of $150,000, and there currently is $474,500 in unused funds available from previous years. If the city wants to be reimbursed for the land purchases, the FAA must be notified by May 1, and the acquisitions must be completed by about mid-August, he said.
The city has made puchase offers for the land in the past, but the offers were not accepted by the landowners - Charles "Chuck" Shreeve and Justin Schafer.
Also Friday, board members decided to hold an executive session to discuss a new three-year contract with Dave Miller to manage the airport.
The most recent contract expired in December, Barber said. The date and time of the executive session have not been set.[[In-content Ad]]
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