Airport taxiways will be fixed

Portland Municipal Airport will be getting more improvements.
Portland Board of Aviation gave its approval Wednesday to repair two taxiways that lead to T-hangars at the airport.
The board also learned flying lessons have begun at the airport and received several updates about documentation regarding the planned runway extension.
Airport manager Hal Tavzel had asked the board in April to consider painting T-hangars, but has since decided that the taxiways are a more pressing issue. He told board members Mike McKee, Jim Runkle, Dick Baldauf and John Lyons that two of the taxiways have severe cracks and pose a hazard to planes.
“There’s big rocks and things, and my opinion is that now it’s going to cause a problem for propellers,” said Tavzel. “It’s something that I feel like needs to get addressed.”
The board gave Tavzel the OK to hire T.J.’s Concrete in Portland to do the work at a cost of $8,240 to be paid from the maintenance budget. T.J.’s recently completed widening a pair of driveways to T-hangars as well as repairs to the airport entrance.
Tavzel has also ordered the part necessary to fix a hangar door that was damaged during a recent storm.
There will be some new safety features around the airport as American Electric Power is ordering four orange markers to be placed on power lines nearby power lines. They will be installed at no cost to the city.
Flying lessons are also underway at the airport with a pilot who owns his own plane and is working on his commercial license. Another pilot has also offered his plane for instruction purposes, and Tavzel is working on developing a formal agreement.
“There’s been a huge interest here the last month in flight instruction,” Tavzel said. “We’re really working to start providing that service.”
Jason Clearwaters of engineering firm Butler, Fairman and Seufert told the board appraisals have been ordered for land owned by Diana Michael west of the airport that will be needed for the runway extension. The first appraisal is due May 29, and a review appraisal will follow by June 5.
The appraisals are the first step toward acquiring the land.
Clearwaters presented a copy of the airport’s new environmental agreement, which needed to be updated in connection with the runway extension. The board plans to vote on the agreement at its June meeting.

And he told board members he will be hiring a title company to help locate missing air easements. Documentation is filed for properties west of the airport, but those for properties to the east are apparently missing.
In other business, the board:
•Learned from Tavzel that the airport’s recent fuel farm inspection went well, but it was recommended that the fuel tanks be cleaned next year.
The airport also planned its FAA weather system inspection.
•Heard from Tavzel that the airport sold 4,201 gallons of fuel in April for $16,323.48.
•Paid claims totaling $1,657.03.