Commission hears project updates: T‑hangar pavement costs rise, tower siding pending grant, North‑end utilities bid under review

Airport staff updated the commission on several capital‑project items, saying escalating costs and timing uncertainty have complicated planned work.

Chad summarized a pavement repair and rehabilitation project for T‑hangars that has grown in scope because water seepage under pavement requires subsurface work: “What was a 1.2 is a 5 point something at this point,” he said, referring to a prior $1.2 million estimate and a new estimate in the roughly $5 million range. Because of the increased cost, state aeronautics funding priorities will influence when construction can proceed.

Staff said an application using NPE funds for air traffic control tower siding has been submitted and the request is with the state; a decision is expected in September with final aeronautics division project lists announced in December. Chad said pavement and approach clearing projects compete for limited state funds and that less than half of a recently appropriated $25 million was being programmed for construction statewide.

Separately, staff said the city received low bids for North‑end utility work and the apparent low bidder (Hensley) prompted additional legal review by the city’s legal department; if cleared, staff will present background checks and recommend awarding the contract to council. Chad said the low bid fits the CIP if validated.

Other items reported included planned AV/furniture purchases for a south‑end meeting room ahead of an October event and coordination of the airport’s five‑year CIP with the state aeronautics ACIP process. No construction contracts were awarded at the meeting.