Project moves forward

Bid opening was pushed back.

But the airport is ready to move forward when they come in.

Portland Board of Aviation on Wednesday granted permission to move forward with a Federal Aviation Administration grant application pending review of bids that will be opened Monday.

Jason Clearwaters of engineering firm Butler, Fairman and Seufert explained to the board that bids were originally scheduled to be opened Tuesday for the airport’s apron expansion project. That date was changed — they will be opened at 11 a.m. Monday —  to accommodate potential bidders.

Board members Faron Parr, Clyde Bray, Caleb Lutes and John Ferguson unanimously approved moving forward with the FAA grant application for the project based on the lowest bid. (Grant applications are due by the end of June.)

Clearwaters clarified that applying for the FAA grant does not lock in any expenses. The project would not be awarded until the FAA returns with a grant offer.

The project calls for expansion of the apron — the area where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled, boarded or maintained.

The board also approved a project order for Butler, Fairman and Seufert for providing on-site representative services for the project. The contract is based on an hourly rate and is not to exceed $209,762 total.

Board members also approved a $25,483.71 pay request on an FAA grant for the design of the apron expansion.

Also Wednesday, airport manager Hal Tavzel reminded the board that the airport will host the Aviation Indiana quarterly meeting Aug. 8. The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a break for lunch.

Tavzel said he and Clearwaters are in the process of finalizing the agenda, which will include several aviation-related presentations. He said 40 to 50 people are expected to attend.

In other business, the board:

•Heard the following from Tavzel:

    —Plans are moving forward with switching phone and internet service at the airport to Verizon, which will also provide equipment for the airport’s weather station. Tavzel said he expects to see a savings of about $300 per month.

    —Two new pilots recently made their first solo flights at the airport.

    —The airport sold 8,109 gallons of fuel in May for $38,466.27. That’s up from 6,982 gallons in May 2023.

•Learned from Portland clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips that there were no bidders to rent the 26 acres of farm ground around the airport. The board asked Phillips to keep them updated.

•Asked Tavzel to get quotes for adding concrete to some of the t-hangars at the airport. Once quotes are in, the board will decide how many, if any, it has the funding for this year. Tavzel said the cost was about $6,000 per hangar last year.

•Approved payment of claims totaling $4,779.53.