Runway extension project moves forward

Small steps continue to be taken toward extending the runway at Portland Municipal Airport.

Portland Board of Aviation on Wednesday submitted a grant request for phase two of the design of the runway extension.

John Speidel of engineering firm Butler, Fairman and Seufert filled in for Jason Clearwaters to present the grant request. The airport is seeking the maximum of $150,000 from the Federal Aviation Administration to fund the second phase of the design of the runway extension. The grant would request matches of $8,333 each from the city and state.

Applications for the grant are due by July, with the board expecting to hear whether it received funding in September.

If awarded, the money will cover the completion of the design of the runway extension, a project that has now been in the works for nearly 20 years. Portland Municipal Airport received FAA approval in 2015 for the extension, which would bring the runway to 5,500 feet from the current 4,000. The longer runway would allow for larger planes to use the airport, including Gulfstream jets.

A justification study that was part of the application process for the extension showed that the change could increase traffic at the airport by 800 operations — takeoffs or landings — per year.

Discussion about such an extension project began in 1999.

Board members Mitch Sutton, Dick Baldauf, Jim Runkle and John Lyons also OK’d a pay request for the grant for the first phase of the runway design. That request totals $11,337 from the FAA, $629.83 from the state and $629.65 from the City of Portland.

The board also awarded a contract for concrete work at the airport to A. Landon Excavating at a total of $17,985. The work includes a new entrance to the east end of the airport from county road 100 North, adding additional concrete near a hangar and other small projects.

The contract passed on a 2-1 vote with Runkle and Sutton in favor and Baldauf voting against.

Baldauf questioned the process, expressing concern that T J Concrete Construction did not get the job. He noted that the company has done good work at the airport on previous projects.

Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman explained that as a government entity it is necessary to take bids for such projects, and that with all other things being equal the lowest bid should be selected. Landon had the lowest bid, compared to $19,530 for T J and more than $22,000 from Mercer County Concrete and Coblentz Construction.

Lyons also complimented airport manager Hal Tavzel on the new hangar that is nearing completion on the east side of the airport. The new building will house planes for Tavzel’s company, Sonrise Aviation.

In other business, the board:

•Learned that Jay County resident Matt Simmons has received his pilot’s license.

•Heard from Tavzel that the airport sold 5,320 gallons in March to bring in $20,841. That’s about 1,300 gallons fewer than in March 2017. He also noted that a fuel farm inspection is scheduled for Tuesday.

•Were reminded that the next Aviation Indiana quarterly meeting is scheduled for April 19 at Clark Regional Airport in Sellersburg.

•Paid $30,289.28 in claims.