Board approves five amendments to airport terminal project, adds septic, 3‑phase power and lighting

The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously March 4 to approve five amendments to the county's public‑private terminal agreement with DelCorp, adding a septic system replacement, three‑phase electrical service, installation of taxiway lights and aircraft tie‑down anchors, and additional terminal parking work.

County airport representative Richard Lewis presented the recommended additions and said the airport's existing 100‑amp electrical service is at capacity and that the automated weather system and approach path indicator lights have experienced outages. He told the board the Department of Aviation funds many airport projects as maintenance and that the county could receive 90% grant funding for eligible security and infrastructure work.

The board's authorization covers design and construction changes needed to make the new terminal and ramp operational and safer. County staff and contractors provided line‑item estimates in the meeting: a parking‑lot increase of roughly $79,000, septic system work of about $53,332, three‑phase power near $80,000, and electrical service runs toward the beacon and fuel farm in the neighborhood of $19,500; those additions increase the project total to about $1,732,734 and raise the county's estimated local share to roughly $86,714. County staff said actual local costs will depend on final state reimbursement decisions and line‑item reviews.

Oscar Barber Hartfield, who described changes to the taxiway footprint, told the board he will adjust a property line to provide sufficient width for taxiway lighting. Mark Flynn, who spoke for project engineers, said septic and power work should have been included originally and must be completed if the terminal is to be built.

Supervisor Jesse moved the amendment package and Supervisor Williams seconded. Roll call was unanimous in favor; staff said work will not begin until the Department of Aviation approves the project at its May meeting and until the contract documents are finalized.

County administrators and the airport team said the 90/10 state/county funding split and the county's “secure airport” designation improve the project's prospects for receiving the higher reimbursement rate. Staff cautioned that the state will not reimburse work performed before an approved project is in place.

The board directed staff to finalize the amendment language and authorized the county administrator to sign the documents once drafted and reviewed by the county attorney. The airport team will return with final, price‑checked contract documents and updated schedules once state approvals and line‑item reconciliations are complete.

The action moves forward the long‑planned terminal and ramp improvements intended to increase safety and capacity at the county airport; staff said pilots had reported outages of approach lighting and automated weather service that the new work aims to correct.