City approves bid authorization for seven hangar pads at Palestine Municipal Airport; budget amendment to draw on fund balance discussed

The Palestine City Council cleared staff to solicit bids for construction of seven hangar pad sites at Palestine Municipal Airport after the Airport Advisory Board approved the plan at its meeting earlier in the week.

Jason Shelton, the interim public works director, told council the airport advisory board approved the plan and staff seeks council approval to move forward to bidding. Shelton said four of the proposed pads would be one of two sizes (either 60 by 53 feet or 60 by 40 feet) and each would include a 25-foot driveway. He said the city would need a budget amendment to draw about $260,000 from fund balance to pay for the work to prepare pads and related infrastructure.

Jeff Simmons of SPI, the developer present virtually, answered council questions about pad size and interest. Shelton told council the city had received 10 inquiries in writing and that three prospective users had provided letters of interest. The motion to authorize staff to go to bid and return with the budget amendment was made, seconded and approved by the council; the council recorded the motion as carried without a roll-call tally recorded in the transcript.

No contractor was selected at the meeting. Council members asked staff to include pad sizes and driveway dimensions in bid documents and to return with a detailed budget amendment before any funds are expended.

The council's action allows staff to prepare procurement documents and seek competitive bids; staff said final contract awards and the budget amendment would return to council for approval.