October 22, 2020 at 4:24 p.m.
Runway work is now planned for ’21
HIS will hold off to avoid inclement weather
Runway work is now planned for ’21
Work on Portland Municipal Airport’s multi-million dollar runway extension likely won’t begin until next year.
Katie England of Butler, Fairman and Seufert, the airport’s engineering firm, said after Portland Aviation Board’s meeting Wednesday that contractor HIS Constructors Inc. probably won’t begin work on phase one of the project until the spring because of concerns about inclement weather.
“They may be better off waiting until next year,” England said.
The Indianapolis contractor originally had a target date to begin moving dirt for the project in the next two weeks, but since the ground will likely be dry in November that would prove difficult, she said.
If they were to start work this winter, the contractor would be responsible for the site until the work is done, England said, which would be an unneeded complication since there’s not a lot of things it can do until the spring anyway.
The meeting was the first board for members John Lyons, Clyde Bray and Faron Parr, absent Mitch Sutton, since the Federal Aviation Administration agreed last month to fund 100% of phase one — grading and drainage — of the nearly $3 million runway extension from 4,000 feet to 5,500 feet.
At last month’s meeting, the board preliminarily approved a contract with HIS Constructors in case federal dollars were awarded before the end of the previous fiscal year, which ended on Sept. 30.
Funding was announced days before the deadline and the bid was awarded without any additional action by the board.
HIS Constructors originally floated the idea this summer of possibly building a box culvert this year. That was assuming FAA money would come in July or August, England said, but since the grant was awarded last minute, that wasn’t possible.
At the recommendation of England, the board approved a $269,900 invoice to be sent to the FAA for reimbursement of a $266,400 mitigation credit the city paid to Indiana Department of Environmental Management in March for the enclosure of 555 feet of Alexander Ditch.
The remaining $3,500 will reimburse the same amount the board paid last month for an independent evaluation of Butler, Fairman and Seufert that was required by the FAA.
In other business, the board:
•Awarded an $8,260 contract to Dalton’s Concrete Construction in Portland to lay new gravel for the airport’s agriculture/crop duster entrance near the east side of the airport.
•Heard from airport manager Hal Tavzel that 9,730 gallons of fuel was sold for $30,176.75 and that the majority of the airport has been converted from propane energy to natural gas.
•Paid $1,385 in claims.
Katie England of Butler, Fairman and Seufert, the airport’s engineering firm, said after Portland Aviation Board’s meeting Wednesday that contractor HIS Constructors Inc. probably won’t begin work on phase one of the project until the spring because of concerns about inclement weather.
“They may be better off waiting until next year,” England said.
The Indianapolis contractor originally had a target date to begin moving dirt for the project in the next two weeks, but since the ground will likely be dry in November that would prove difficult, she said.
If they were to start work this winter, the contractor would be responsible for the site until the work is done, England said, which would be an unneeded complication since there’s not a lot of things it can do until the spring anyway.
The meeting was the first board for members John Lyons, Clyde Bray and Faron Parr, absent Mitch Sutton, since the Federal Aviation Administration agreed last month to fund 100% of phase one — grading and drainage — of the nearly $3 million runway extension from 4,000 feet to 5,500 feet.
At last month’s meeting, the board preliminarily approved a contract with HIS Constructors in case federal dollars were awarded before the end of the previous fiscal year, which ended on Sept. 30.
Funding was announced days before the deadline and the bid was awarded without any additional action by the board.
HIS Constructors originally floated the idea this summer of possibly building a box culvert this year. That was assuming FAA money would come in July or August, England said, but since the grant was awarded last minute, that wasn’t possible.
At the recommendation of England, the board approved a $269,900 invoice to be sent to the FAA for reimbursement of a $266,400 mitigation credit the city paid to Indiana Department of Environmental Management in March for the enclosure of 555 feet of Alexander Ditch.
The remaining $3,500 will reimburse the same amount the board paid last month for an independent evaluation of Butler, Fairman and Seufert that was required by the FAA.
In other business, the board:
•Awarded an $8,260 contract to Dalton’s Concrete Construction in Portland to lay new gravel for the airport’s agriculture/crop duster entrance near the east side of the airport.
•Heard from airport manager Hal Tavzel that 9,730 gallons of fuel was sold for $30,176.75 and that the majority of the airport has been converted from propane energy to natural gas.
•Paid $1,385 in claims.
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