At their first meeting since August the Warsaw Board of Aviation Commissioners heard from engineer Ken Ross and looked at a rental agreement for a hangar.
Ross, the airport engineer from NGC, informed the board that he had a very promising meeting with American Electric Power Tuesday.
“We looked at raising the elevations on the poles,” Ross said. “The game plan we have come up with has eliminated six new poles and use the existing conductors. That will move us from 14 new poles to eight. All will stay within the existing right of way.”
Ross then informed the board that raising the electric line poles will require the airport to install obstruction lights.
“We think this is a good compromise. It will bring the cost down substantially,” Ross said. “It allows us to go to the FAA and say here are options. If you want a perfect project here it is. If not here is a compromise.”
The cost savings for the change in pole height is unknown at this time.
Warsaw Common Council representative Charlie Smith asked Ross how much of a difference in height the pole would be from the original 65-80 feet they had planned.
“The poles are on average 130 foot tall right now. The higher than preferred alternative would make them 20-30 feet taller than where we wanted to be.” Ross Said.
With the higher than preferred alternative height the poles would be approximately 100 feet tall.
“The first plan with no issues and a 1,000 foot runway addition was going to cost $8 million. The 500 foot addition with no issues was $5 million,” Ross said. “AEP wants a commitment that you will pay for all of it when you sign.”
Airport Manager David Beall informed the board during his report that Alan Hoover expressed interest in purchasing hangar two.
“He would like to do a year lease with a purchase option at the end of the year,” Beall said. “He would like to set up an aerobatics business.”
Since the hangar is owned by the city they cannot do a lease agreement, Beall said. Hoover currently rents the hangar on a month to month basis.
“The lease option will not be accepted,” Beall said. “We will put the hangar up for bid by the end of the year and give Mr. Hoover the opportunity to bid on it.”
Additionally Beall told the board that “it is still a slow year for fuel sales, but it had picked up a bit in September.”
“Johnson and Johnson purchased more than anticipated,” Beall said. “We don’t anticipate any major changes between now and the end of the year. Stock up on de-icing material while we are still on this budget year. We will also resurface the back taxi way near the Biomet hangar.”
Near the end of the meeting Smith asked Beall about September’s blackout at the airport.
“Hattfield Electric had to fix the breaker box near the runway field,” Beall said.
The incident had to divert a few flights to other airports.
Beall said he would have one of his employees look at the cost to put a backup on the breaker.
Board President Jay Rigdon had very little issue with the idea.
“I don’t mind spending money on a cheap solution, but I don’t want to spend money on something that happens every half century,” Rigdon said.
The next meeting of the Warsaw Board of Aviation Commissioners will be Nov. 13 at 5:15 p.m. at the Warsaw Municipal Airport.
