Funding is in; box to be upgraded

The airport has received its funding for a planned improvement project.

It will also purchase new equipment in order to ensure night-time operations.

Portland Board of Aviation learned Wednesday that the airport has received Federal Aviation Administration grant funding for its apron expansion and approved the purchase of a new electrical box.

Jason Clearwaters of Butler, Fairman & Seufert, the airport’s engineering firm, reported to the board that it received its $654,000 in FAA entitlement funds. It got an additional $314,064 from the 2020 federal infrastructure bill.

With the funds available, the apron expansion project was awarded to Kwest Group of Perrysburg, Ohio. The firm was the lowest bidder at $965,497.15. (The board in July agreed to award the project to Kwest, pending the receipt of the federal funding.)

The apron expansion project will add 57,700 square feet (1.32 acres) to the apron — the area where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled, boarded or maintained. Construction is planned for 2025.

Airport manager Hal Tavzel also told the board there was a recent electrical issue in the airport’s vault room that affected runway lights. As a result, the runway was shut down for several nights. 

Coppersmith of Portland fixed the issue, but Tavzel recommended getting the box replaced. He estimated the cost at $10,000 or more, plus installation.

Clearwaters agreed with Tavzel’s assessment.

He noted that the equipment is not something that can be picked up at a hardware store and that the lead time can be four months or longer.

“The unit or box is a constant current regulator, so it converts power coming in to what goes to the airfield,” he said. “It’s aviation specific. … And they have a significant lead time. They build them as you order them.”

He added that the existing box could be kept as a back-up in case of emergencies.

The board approved the purchase of a new electrical box at the lowest quote based on specifications Clearwaters will provide.

Clearwaters also told the board that FAA representatives along with officials from Indiana Department of Transportation Aviation will visit the airport at 3 p.m. Sept. 24. The visit will include a tour of the facility, a look at completed, ongoing and future projects and a review of the airport’s capital improvement plan.

“When we submit projects for grant funding, yeah, there’s a scoring system, but there’s still a personal involvement in projects that go or may not go,” said Clearwaters. “So it’s always good to try to have a relationship with them and to make sure they understand the importance of the airport and what you guys are trying to do here.”

In other business, the board:

•Approved increasing monthly T-hangar rent to $100 from the current $95. The increase will go into effect Jan. 1.

•Asked Tavzel to seek quotes for crack sealing for the airport’s taxiway after he reported that he has been noticing more cracking. The board plans to encumber 2024 funds for completion of the crack sealing next year.

•Agreed to ask city attorney Wes Schemenaur to draw up a contract allowing a renter to place a fuel tank at the airport for “mogas” because his plane does not run properly on aviation fuel. Board members had various questions, including where the tank could be placed safely. Clearwaters recommended that the pilot be charged a flowage fee.

•Heard from Tavzel that the airport sold 10,813 gallons of fuel in August for $47,091. That’s down from 15,805.42 gallons last year and a slight increase from 10, 295 gallons in August 2022.

•Learned the following from Tavzel:

   —The annual Indiana Department of Transportation airport inspection was last month. There were no findings.

   —Coblentz Construction of Geneva is nearing completion of concrete work in three hangars.

   —Verizon is now the phone and internet provider for the airport. (Tavzel previously projected the switch to Verizon would save about $300 per month.)

   —Thirty-seven children ages 8 to 17 took free plane rides during a Young Eagles event this month.

   —About 300 visitors were served in August during the airport’s pancake breakfast in partnership with the American Legion Riders.

   —The Aviation Indiana annual conference is Oct. 15 through 17 in Terre Haute. Tavzel and Clearwaters will attend.

•Discussed the possibility of renting a building for the winter from adjacent landowner Richard Schafer for storage of equipment, as it did last year. Clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips said she would get in contact with Schafer.

•OK’d an updated policy regarding on Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, as required following FFA rule updates.

•Approved $887.82 in claims.