Complete, continuing

The most recent major project is complete.

Paperwork is being submitted for the next one.

And plans are in place for additional work through the early 2030s.

Portland Board of Aviation heard an update on its apron expansion project at Portland Municipal Airport, approved a pre-application and a contract for runway rehabilitation and a new weather system and OK’d its five-year capital improvement plan during a meeting Wednesday.

Jason Clearwaters of engineering firm Butler, Fairman & Seufert told the board that the apron expansion project was substantially complete on Nov. 3. Only small items, such as ensuring grass is growing properly in the spring, remain.

The project added 57,700 square feet to the apron, where aircraft are parked, loaded, unloaded, refueled, boarded and maintained.

Board members Faron Parr, Clyde Bray, John Ferguson and Caleb Lutes accepted the substantial completion report.

They also approved payment of an invoice from Kwest Group, which handled the project, totaling $209,385 for work completed between Oct. 12 and Nov. 3. (Five percent is being held back until the project is formally closed.) They then approved two grant reimbursement requests totaling $242,404.92, which will also cover Butler, Fairman & Seufert fees related to the project. The project is being covered 90% by the Federal Aviation Administration, 5% by Indiana Department of Transportation and 5% by the city.

The board also approved a grant reimbursement request totaling $18,789.94 for design of the rehabilitation of the original 4,000-foot runway at the airport. (It has since been extended to 5,500 feet.) It then approved a pre-application for FAA funding for the work on the runway, with bidding expected in early 2026. The project is estimated at $1.52 million.

Also on the list of approvals Wednesday was a $49,360 contract, plus mileage costs, with Butler, Fairman & Seufert for designing, bidding and overseeing construction of a new automated weather observing station. That project is also scheduled for 2026 and will be funded through the airport’s remaining money from the 2021 federal infrastructure bill.

The airport’s current weather system is 23 years old. Airport manager Hal Tavzel has previously pointed out that they are intended to last about 15 years.

In addition to the planned 2026 projects, the airport’s capital improvement plan includes design and reconstruction of the terminal apron in 2027 and 2028, respectively; designing and constructing rehabilitation of taxiway pavement and upgrading lighting in 2029 and 2030, respectively; and designing a wildlife control and security fence in 2031.

The airport would also add a 10-unit T-hangar if state funding for such a project became available.

“You guys have always done a good job of having a good plan and working the plan,” said Clearwaters. “I think we’re on a good track.”

The board approved the capital improvement plan, which will now be submitted to the FAA.

In other business, the board:

•Heard from Tavzel that the airport sold 7,758 gallons of fuel in October for $32,271.85. That’s up from 6,713 gallons in October 2024. He also reported that planned cleaning of the fuel tanks was rescheduled.

•Agreed to allow Sonrise Aviation to install spray foam insulation in one of its hangars in order to make it more energy efficient. Tavzel, co-owner of Sonrise, said a similar project at another hangar resulted in 40% savings in energy costs. The board asked Tavzel to get three quotes for the project and approved moving forward with the lowest quote in order to expedite the process.

•Approved the payment of claims totaling $1,608.18.

•Heard from clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips that hangar rental contracts have been sent out of 2026.