Projects progressing

One word could sum up the work at the airport: progress.
Long-term plans are finally coming to fruition for personal companies and city projects at Portland Municipal Airport.
Construction of a hangar is in progress while a new one is still in the works. Also, renovations that were held back for almost a year are ready to begin.
After several setbacks, the airport will begin renovating the airport breezeway today to make an office and living quarters for the Lutheran Air I medical staff. The original start date was scheduled for early May, a time set by project engineers Garmann/Miller of Minster, Ohio. Portland Board of Aviation member Dick Baldauf said there were setbacks, but “this is the date we’re starting with (and) still looking for completion in August.”
In a May meeting, Muhlenkamp Building Corporation was awarded the contract for the work for a total project cost of $118,366.
Lutheran Air and the aviation board signed a three-year lease agreement in June at $1,750 a month with two automatic one-year renewals. The goal was set for the staff to move in Sept. 1, but the date was pushed back after the board learned that Indiana Department of Homeland Security required a permit to make renovations.
As a temporary office/living quarters, the board purchased a $30,000 mobile home that came in October that is housing the crew until the renovations are complete.
“I’m anxious to get things started and anxious to get things going,” said Bauldauf. “I’ve got my confidence in (Garmann/Miller) and everything goes as planned.”
Another project years in the planning is already underway.
Sonrise Aviation is constructing a 70-foot deep by 75-foot wide hangar is being constructed at the airport. In a November meeting, Sonrise owner Hal Tavzel, who also serves as airport manager, made an agreement with the board for a 25-year lot lease for the hangar.
Tavzel had been discussing building a 16-foot tall hangar with a 66-foot wide door for his business since last winter. Materials for the hangar were bought and construction was scheduled for April but was delayed because of rain.
“It sat like that for about a month,” said Tavzel who said the hangar beams were erected Tuesday.
Projected completion time is scheduled for sometime in July.
The hangar will be able to store up to five small airplanes, Tavzel added, and within a couple of years he will have offices built on the north side of the hangar to help manage charter services.
Two months before Tavzel was approved his lease, a local pilot came to a board meeting with the intent on building a hangar. Jeff Roessner discussed building a hangar to store his aircraft and have an area for pilot training.
That possibility has not been mentioned at an aviation board meeting since then, but Roessner still has his sights on seeing the project, a 40-by-50-foot hangar, completed.
“We are at this point wanting to get water and gas to the airport,” he said.
Roessner added that he was waiting on water to be available at the airport but expected the change wouldn’t occur until fall. But Thursday morning, Portland Board of Works approved extending a water line about 2,000 feet from near Hoosier Inn, 1620 N. Meridian St., west to the airport.
Like Tavzel, Roessner would likely sign a 20- or 25-year lease for the hangar, after which it would become the airport’s property.