Weather slows progress

Recent weather has not been conducive to much progress toward extending the local airport’s runway.

Jason Clearwaters of engineering firm Butler, Fairman and Seufert told Portland Board of Aviation at its meeting Wednesday that the contractor on the Portland Municipal Airport runway extension project has requested additional time to complete the first phase of the work.

Clearwaters said there was no activity on the runway extension project — it is being lengthened to 5,500 feet from the current 4,000 feet — last week because of rain. HIS Constructors of Indianapolis has requested “essentially an additional month” to complete the western portion of the first phase of the project — leveling the land west of the current runway and enclosing 555 feet of Alexander Ditch — that was expected to be completed in mid-to-late August.

Adding that amount of time could be problematic, Clearwaters noted, because the eastern portion of the first phase of the project was scheduled to be complete by the end of October. Adding a nearly month would push that timeline to late November, when inclement weather could become an issue. He said Butler, Fairman and Seufert are tracking “workable” days and that the board can make a decision on an extension at a later date.

“They’re making progress this week,” said Clearwaters. “They just need to ramp up production.”

He said work so far has included installation of a storm sewer line, stripping topsoil and hauling dirt to level the area west of the current runway.

Clearwaters added that a pre-bid meeting was held July 12 for the second phase of the project — paving and lighting — that is scheduled for 2022. Bids are due Tuesday.

Board members John Lyons, Faron Parr, Mitch Sutton and Clyde Bray voted to allow Butler, Fairman and Seufert to submit a grant request for the second phase of the project to the Federal Aviation Administration based on the lowest bid received.

The phase is estimated at $1,409,115, with the FAA expected to cover the full amount thanks in part to funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. (Such work is typically paid 90% by the FAA, with 5% each coming from the state and the municipality.)

The board also approved payment to HIS for the first five weeks of work on the project and submitted a pay request for $126,591.77 to the Federal Aviation Administration for reimbursement. (The FAA is paying for the entirety of the first phase of the project — $3.8 million — in part from funding via the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.)

The board also approved renting less than a half acre of land from Richard Schafer, 825 W. 100 North, at a rate of $100 per month to allow construction access as needed.

In other business, the board:

•Was reminded that the airport will host a fly-in and pancake breakfast Aug. 28. Breakfast will be available from 6 to 10 a.m. for $7. Airplane rides will be available for $20 from 6 a.m. to noon. (The board also agreed to purchase a grill owned by Lloyd Knittle for $1,000. Knittle bought the grill, which had only been used for events at the airport.)

•Learned from Clearwaters that the airport is slated to receive $22,000 in coronavirus relief funds through the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The board voted to submit an application for that money and to accept the grant when the funds become available.

•Approved initially splitting the cost for $6,662.50 in concrete work by Dalton’s Concrete Construction at hangar six with the renter. The aviation board’s expenses will be repaid through rent.

•Heard from airport manager Hal Tavzel that a total of 4,189 gallons of fuel were sold in June for $16,576.94. That’s down from 5,203 gallons in June 2019.

•Learned from Tavzel that electrical repairs were completed at one of the hangars.