Airport will need to adjust plans

Work to update the airport capital improvement plan will begin next month.

It will require some changes because of rules regarding the 2021 federal infrastructure bill.

Jason Clearwaters of engineering firm Butler, Fairman & Seufert explained to Portland Board of Aviation during its meeting Wednesday that infrastructure bill rules limit use for reimbursement.

The aviation board had submitted a request to use a portion of the infrastructure bill funds — about $110,000 annually over five years — to reimburse funds that were used to purchase land in 2015 for the runway extnesion project that was completed at Portland Municipal Airport last year. Clearwaters informed the board Monday that the “fine print” of the bill only allows for reimbursement of expenditures incurred after the bill was passed in 2021. The board had hoped to utilize the reimbursed funds to construct a snow equipment removal building at the airport.

 Board members will need to reconsider how to utilize the infrastructure bill funds as part of updating their five-year capital improvement plan, which is due to the Federal Aviation Administration by Dec. 1. Clearwaters set out a timeline of discussing the plan at the September meeting, reviewing a first draft in October and approving a final version in November.

The current plan calls for construction of an apron expansion next year, completion of a wildlife hazard assessment and possible construction of a wildlife fence, and renovation of the existing apron in the future.

Board members Faron Parr, Clyde Bray, Caleb Lutes and John Ferguson also approved a grant payment request from the FAA of $59,696.07 for the final stages of work by Milestone Contractors and Butler, Fairman and Seufert for the runway extension project. Clearwaters said he expects to have close-out paperwork for the second phase of the project. (Milestone will be at the airport next week to complete some final grading and reseeding related to the project.)

In other business, the board:

•Approved a slight modification to a lease with Tavzel for the construction of a new hangar for Sonrise Aviation. The change, a shift of 18 feet, was needed to allow for more space for parking between the taxiway and the hangar.

•Heard from Tavzel that 10,798 gallons of fuel were sold at the airport in July for $47,012.54. That’s up from 8,920.25 gallons in July 2022.

•OK’d a new policy for members of the public to be on the agenda to speak at an aviation board meeting. Those interested in presenting to the board will need to fill out a form in advance and turn it in to city hall. Presentations will be limited to three minutes.

•Approved and then rescinded the purchase of a new mower. The purchase was rescinded because of the need to obtain multiple quotes. The board plans to revisit the purchase at its next meeting.

•Was reminded that the airport’s annual fly-in and pancake breakfast is scheduled for Aug. 26. Breakfast will be served from 6 to 10 a.m. at a cost of $7. Plane rides will be available for $20 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Portland American Legion Riders are organizing the breakfast, with proceeds to go toward the group’s philanthropic giving.

•Learned from Clearwaters that the marker needed to identify true north for the airport’s automated weather observing system has been installed.