CIP approved

Portland Board of Aviation made quick work of its meeting Wednesday, approving its capital improvement plan for submission to the Federal Aviation Administration with no changes from what had previously been discussed.

As board members Faron Parr, Clyde Bray, Caleb Lutes and John Ferguson discussed at their last several meetings, the capital improvement plan for Portland Municipal Airport calls for apron expansion construction in 2024. (Work on the design of the expansion is underway.)

Design of runway rehabilitation for the original 4,000 feet — it was extended to 5,500 feet last year — is on the schedule for 2025, with construction of the runway work in 2026.

The remainder of the planned improvement projects include rehabilitation of the existing apron with design in 2027 and construction in ’28, followed by design of wildlife control measures in 2029.

The board unanimously approved the capital improvement plan, which is due to the FAA by Dec. 1.

Members also approved a pre-application letter for the planned 2024 apron expansion construction. It is part of the process toward possible FAA grant funding for the work.

Jason Clearwaters of engineering firm Butler, Fairman & Seufert also told the board the runway end identifier lights that have been on order for months have been delivered to the airport. He said he is hopeful that they can be installed next week.

He told the board wildlife assessment visits to the airport will conclude this month, with a report on recommendations to follow.

The board also OK’d a grant reimbursement request totaled at $3,773.01 for the apron expansion design and wildlife assessment.

In other business, the board:

•Heard from Tavzel that 6,185 gallons of fuel were sold at the airport in October for a total of $31,397.64. He also reported that insulation work has been completed in hangars and that a few trees were taken down on the property.

•Approved continuing to use Miles and Sons for snow plowing at a rate of $100 per hour. (There was no increase from previous years.)

•Learned from Tavzel that the new Sonrise Aviation hangar will be complete in “a month or so.” It also approved an update to the lease agreement with Sonrise Aviation with a rate increase of $50 per month.