North Adams Must Fill $70K Gap To Fund Airport Project
 The city will have to look elsewhere for funding to complete the apron project at Harriman-West Airport. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Phase II of the airport's apron project may be in jeopardy because of a lack of city funding.
Administrative Officer Michael Canales told the Airport Commission on Wednesday afternoon that the city cannot afford the local share of the project.
The Committee had called a special meeting to select one of three design options for Phase II at Harriman-West Airport provided by engineers from Gale Associates. However, Canales said even if the cheapest option is chosen, there is a nearly $70,000 gap that would have to be closed.
"The simple thing is the cost doubled for the last few projects because of the decision of the federal government to reduce [spending]," Canales said. "That’s just the reality of it."
Canales said the city borrowed $650,000 a few years ago to complete various projects at the airport. At that time, officials anticipated they would have to cover 2.5 percent of the total cost of the project while the state covered another 2.5 percent and the Federal Aviation Administration covered 95 percent. Two years ago, the funding schedule changed and the city now must supply funds for 5 percent of the project while the state provides 5 percent and the FAA covers 90 percent.
He said the city has $96,000 left from the original $650,000 that will not cover the $163,000 the city would owe for the cheapest option.
The first option would extend the apron and repair a fixed-base operator building, the second option repairs the apron and allows partial work on the fixed-base operator building, and the third contains the complete renovation of the apron.
Even though there is a gap in the funding, said Canales, the commission should still vote on a plan so they can attempt to move forward. He said the engineering and design from Gale can be funded with the $96,000 and Gale is confident that the remaining funds can be found somewhere else.
"They [Gale] are under the impression that if we move ahead with the design, that we can get to a point where we can look at other possible funding sources that will allow us the ability to close the gap to finish Phase II," he said. "If we don't move forward with the project, then the city becomes responsible for the cost of the engineering with no reimbursement."
Canales said Gale suggested that there may be some funds the city could receive from the Massachusetts Aeronautics Division. He said traditionally there is money left over from projects that were unable to be completed.
He is working with Gale's engineers to get an exact breakdown of the project so the city knows the exact amount it will cost. He said it will be important to know exactly how much the project will cost so they can start conversations with Massachusetts Aeronautics.
Chairman Jeffrey Naughton suggested moving forward with the least expensive option three, which costs in total nearly $3 million.
"If we get to the point where it goes out to bid and we don't have the additional funds established then obviously we don't build it, but at least this way we stay on cue and in schedule," Naughton said.
The commission decided to go with this option and look at what it can remove to lower the cost.
Canales said if additional funds come along, they can add to the proposed plan.
Tags: airport, airport commission, airport project,
