Posted: 8/30/06
Airport projects approvedñbarely
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Houston County commissioners narrowly approved bids on August 22 for two projects at the county airport.
An aircraft fueling system will be installed by Advanced Tank Service of Eau Claire, Wisconsin for $127,000.
A public restroom and well construction project was awarded to Voss & Sons Construction of La Crescent for $169,105.
Houston Countyís cost will be $14,805, because Federal Aviation Administration funds are paying for 95 percent of the project.
The projects are part of a 2006 Airport Improvement Program (AIP) plan approved in June.
Commissioners Dave Corcoran and Kevin Kelleher opposed last weekís motion, which passed 3-2. Corcoran said that he had received calls from contractors who felt they did not have enough time to bid on the projects, and that the specifications were not clear.
Matt Wagner, an engineer with the firm Mead & Hunt, said there was a 19-day bidding process. He said he had voiced concerns about the timeline with then-county engineer Tracey Von Bargen in March and April. Federal officials had a deadline of mid-August, but they extended it to August 21 for Houston County, Wagner said.
The county has $543,000 of AIP funds available through 2006, but $93,000 of it has to be used this year or it will be returned to the FAA general fund.
ìI hate to have these guns to my head,î Corcoran said. He made a motion to table it for two weeks, but no one seconded it.
If the county waits until next year, it will have to be rebid and the costs will be higher, commissioner Tom Bjerke said.
The county board approved an Airport Layout Plan in May of last year. The 20-year project will cost an estimated $3.9 million, with a county share of $242,750. The plan includes the construction of a new runway and the removal of obstructions.
The airport is located two miles south of Caledonia at the intersection of Highway 44 and 76. The county bought the 52 acre parcel in 1967.
Recycling discussion
In other business, Mark Niles of Scientific Recycling discussed his recycling business with commissioners. The county has had a contract with Scientific Recycling to recycle appliances since 1996. The company charges $10 per appliance plus mileage and a fuel surcharge. Another company, Waste Management, has made a proposal of charging $700 per trailer load of appliances.
Niles said his company is concerned about the environment, and does not sell to Third World countries. ìI will not contribute to the ozone depletion and wrecking water and dumping crap on the ground,î he said. ìI sleep well at night.î
He also asked Bjerke to compare his company with Waste Management. ìYou guys have a lot cleaner facility, more organized,î Bjerke answered.
Kelleher asked environmental services director Rick Frank to put the two proposals side by side so that the board could review them. Frank said he would do that.
Frank also requested that the board advertise for bids for processing recyclables and supplying containers for hauling of scrap metals at the countyís five drop sites. The board approved this.
Other business
ï Guard rail erosion: The board authorized spending about $30,000 for a bituminous surface around guard rails that are being installed on County Road 13 west of Houston. Maintenance supervisor Tom Molling said it would be better to do it now rather than after the guard rails are installed, which would require hand work. The money is not in the 2006 budget, Molling said.
ï Garage removal: Commissioners also approved advertising for bids to remove the garage on the property at 323 South Marshall. The house was torn down last week. The minimum bid is $1,000, with a deadline for completion of November 15.
ï Bids approved: Commissioners awarded two bridge-approach paving bids to Mathy Construction, one for $32,563 for County Road 4 north of Yucatan, and one for $68,343 for County Road 249 in Freeburg.
Kimball Construction was awarded bids for Whitetail Drive in Crooked Creek for $164,221, and for Peyton Valley Road in Winnebago Township for $108,229. They are box culvert projects that come from the township bridge account.
A pavement marking bid went to Traffic Marking Service for $79.906. A salt bid went to North American Salt Company.
ï Overage on Woodland Building: Commissioners also approved paying $5,450.92 to Stemper Construction for extra work that the company did on the Woodland Industry building. Molling recommended the changes, which included things like extra vents and gutters. Molling said he was pleased with how the project turned out, and had heard many good comments about it.
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