Tenants at the meeting described prolonged hangar repairs, difficulty securing qualified contractors, and safety concerns when work occurs with aircraft inside hangars. Council members and staff discussed bonding and insurance rules the city requires for contractors and potential legal workarounds.
Tenants said some hangar doors have been in disrepair for months and that local contractors often lack hangar‑specific experience. Several speakers described instances where grinders or welding were performed with aircraft present, creating sparks near planes; participants said that practice creates obvious safety risks. Staff acknowledged contractor scarcity in the region and that the city’s insurance and bonding requirements mean many smaller, experienced fabricators are ineligible or unwilling to perform work unless a larger contract or grant justifies bond procurement.
Staff reported that ramp funds cover hangar maintenance within the defined ramp area and that the airport is allocating roughly half its ramp money to capital improvements and half to annual maintenance. Participants discussed a possible workaround: staff will consult the city attorney to determine whether the city can set a bond threshold or another approach to allow smaller fabricators to perform limited work without full bonding while preserving liability protections.
The airport manager and staff said they have attempted to use a local contractor who has been responsive at times but that response rates vary; one contractor, described as reaching staff "maybe 1 out of every 10 times," has been unable to complete some delayed jobs. Tenants and staff proposed better pre‑qualification of vendors, improved communication when contractors are scheduled, and stronger on‑site oversight to ensure aircraft are removed before high‑risk work begins. The airport manager said he will restrict bringing contractors on site until there is clear evidence of appropriate insurance or bonding and clearer prework planning.
No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting; staff were asked to consult legal counsel and return with recommendations for how to balance safety, contractor access and fiscal constraints.