Friday, January 4, 2002
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Friday, January 4, 2002 |
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Delays in start-up, weather could affect finish of new hangar area at Falcon Field By JOHN
MUNFORD
Falcon Field officials are worrying that construction on its commercially-designated Hangar Area B won't be completed on time. Airport Manager Jim Savage told the Airport Authority Wednesday night that the project slowed down significantly over the holidays, partially due to weather conditions over the past few weeks. But Savage also contended that the contractor, Cline Construction, should have started the job earlier than it did. The project didn't get underway until mid-October, he said. "At some point, we're going to have to request another meeting and perhaps be more forceful," Savage said. If the project is late, Cline is subject to pay $750 a day in liquidated damages to the authority, Savage noted. "It's really kind of frustrating they haven't put more than a handful of people here (working on the project)," Savage added. Even though there's a chance the project won't finish on time, the authority is forging ahead with plans to lease the hangar area space. Currently, deposits have been placed on two of the six hangar areas. The authority has set Feb. 15 as the final date for anyone with deposits for the area to sign a lease contract or have their deposit returned. The authority will require payment of a year's rent in advance, but those funds won't be deducted until the area is ready for them to build their hangars. "We want someone to come in right behind us and start building," said authority chairperson Catherine Nelmes. The authority also discussed beginning the planning process for the next six-month budget. Nelmes said she wanted to see a list of the necessary improvement projects the authority needs to fund and complete. "We need to see how many immediate expenses we'll have coming up and I think it will be significant," she said. Nelmes was reappointed chairperson of the authority while H.E. Buffington was reappointed its secretary-treasurer. The authority has no vice-chair, but the secretary-treasurer runs meetings in the absence of the chairperson.
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