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WINTERSVILLE -- The project to resurface the taxiway at the Geary A. Bates Jefferson County Airpark is one step closer to pavement going down.
Monday, at the monthly meeting of the Jefferson County Airport Authority Board of Directors, bids were received from three potential contractors interested in completing the work.
The bids, all from companies located in Ohio, ranged from $2,680,091 to $2,897,802. Rayland’s Shelly and Sands had the low bid.
All three bids were forwarded to the board’s engineering consultant firm, Michael Baker International, who did the design grant applications for the project.
After the bids were opened, a representative from Michael Baker informed the board the engineer’s estimate for the work was a little more than $3.3 million, so all three bidders came in under the estimate.
Michael Baker’s engineers will examine the bids to confirm they meet the requirements and specifications of the job and make a recommendation to the board for approval.
The project will be fully funded by grant monies from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The consultant also told the board that applications for grant funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation for a runway lighting and beacon project were submitted
The application is for the board to match 21 percent of the project, estimated to be more than $500,000, putting the local match slightly over $100,000.
Part of that proposed project is for a LED beacon, which would make the air park the first airport in the state to have one, it was noted.
The board passed a resolution to receive and accept the grant funds from ODOT. It was noted a similar resolution was recently passed by the Jefferson County commissioners, one of whom, Tony Morelli, was present at the meeting.
During his report, airport Manager Brian Thaxton noted that three individuals who were on the waiting list for the new hangars that will be constructed later this year withdrew their interest.
The board previously, and tentatively, decided on a rent fee of $375.
After some discussion, it was decided by the board it is too early in the process to revisit the rent currently and another discussion could be held closer to the completion of the hangars.
During the building committee update, board and committee member Rich Stenzel told the board the projects under way at the air park, including the hangar construction prep, are on track.
Board President Brandon Reese updated the board that the lease agreement for the former Cross Creek Township Building with Bio-Serv Corp, doing business as Rose Pest Solutions, has been signed. The board originally approved the agreement on April 19.
Reese, saying he’s still researching the matter, informed the board a bill passed by Congress in 2018 changed the FAA authority over the use airport property for non-aeronautical use, meaning the process the board will go through to lease the property may be much simpler if certain criteria are met.