Airport sees fuel sales rise

Portland Municipal Airport saw a spike in its fuel sales during the month of June, resulting in the largest revenue from sales in the last year.

Portland Board of Aviation discussed the fuel sales increase at its Tuesday afternoon meeting and also approved a bid for resurfacing of the parking lot and handicap access ramp.

Portland Board of Aviation president John Lyons said that in June, the airport sold 7,987.65 gallons of fuel for a total revenue of $27,490.76. He attributed the increase to good weather conditions and the start of summer, the prime season for flights. By comparison, in June 2016, the airport sold 6,172 gallons of fuel for a revenue of $21,472.32.

The board also viewed a pair of bids for resurfacing the pavement of the airport parking lot and handicap access ramp. The first bid, from P and J Construction of Fort Wayne, came in at a cost of $26,500 for the two projects. The second, from Landon Excavating of Portland, was $11,230. Board members Mitch Sutton, Dick Baldauf and Lyons, absent Jim Runkle, approved a motion to award the contract to Landon Excavating.

John Spiedel, representing Butler, Fairman & Seufert, also updated the board on a series of outstanding proposals with the Federal Aviation Administration. Spiedel said the airport layout plan, resubmitted to the FAA in November, still hasn’t been received back with additional comments. Spiedel also said the proposal for the runway extension project has been submitted to the FAA, and that the board could hear back in September about grant money.

Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman added that during his recent trip to Washington D.C., he spoke with Senators Todd Young and Joe Donnelly and Rep. Jim Banks about their possible support for the new airport project. According to Geesaman, all three committed to helping lobby the FAA and writing letters of support on behalf of the city.

The board also approved $14,260.41 in claims.