Airport authority to hire local engineering firm for hangar project
DUNBAR TWP. — The Fayette County Airport Authority will utilize the services of a local engineering firm to advance its $2 million hangar project.
In unanimous action of those present on Friday, the board approved R.W. Sleighter Engineering Inc. of Lemont Furnace to provide engineering and design documents for the construction work being planned at the Joesph A. Hardy/Connellsville Airport.
“We want to get this project rolling,” said Joe Maher, authority vice-chairman, following the special meeting to determine whether the panel would proceed with authority engineer Michael Baker and Associates of Pittsburgh, or hire an outside firm to handle the project. “Michael Baker will continue to be the airport engineer.”
John “Bud” Neckeraurer, airport manager, said that Baker was initially given the go-ahead to design the project. However, the firm has only presented a conceptual drawing to date which is not keeping pace with the board’s time frame.
“It is going to make life a lot easier to have a local engineering company that is more responsive to our needs,” said Maher. “(The selection of Sleighter) has nothing to do with competency. Michael Baker is very competent. We just want to move a little quicker.”
Authority solicitor William Martin said because engineering services for an entity is considered professional services, the authority is not required to seek bids, but, instead, can a select a firm.
“The board could enter into competitive bidding, but it is not required by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,” he said.
Earlier this year, the county received a $1 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant with 84 Lumber and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort founder Joseph A. Hardy III agreeing to match the state funding for the project to be undertaken by the authority.
RACP is a commonwealth grant program administered by the state Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement project.
To be eligible for the grant, the amount must be matched by the recipient.
The proposed plan is to construct about 40 corporate and smaller T-hangars at the airport along an unused runway.
Maher speculated that after an agreement has been inked with Sleighter, the project could get underway within a week to 30 days.
“They know we want to get started,” he said. “So far we’ve only be plodding along. We don’t want to be an Indianapolis race car, but in the same breath we need to move a little faster.”
The board has yet to finalize its contract with Hardy.
Martin said Friday that only minor issues remain to be resolved.
The agreement with Sleighter is pending Martin’s review and disengagement with Baker from the hangar project.
The Pittsburgh firm has yet to submit an invoice for the work completed, said Neckeraurer.
In addition to Maher, board members Bill Gerke, Sam Cordis and John Cofchin voted in favor of the measure. Board member Philip Holt was absent from the special meeting.