Dexter Daily Statesman: Local News: City opens bids on airport project, low bid is $437,000

City officials at Dexter received three bids on a project at the Dexter Municipal Airport that would demolish a storm damaged hangar and construct a new hangar in its place. Sealed bids were opened on the project Tuesday at the Municipal Building.

C.A. Walker Construction of Dexter was the low bidder with a bid of $437,000. Others bidding on the project were Huey Construction Co. of Fulton with a bid of $531,780 and R.L. Persons Construction Co. of Poplar Bluff with a bid of $605,000. The bids will be sent to the Missouri Department of Transportation, Aviation Department who will award the contract for the project.

Engineer John D. Chittenden opened the bids. Chittenden is with Waters Engineering, Inc. of Sikeston, the firm hired by the Airport Commission to oversee the project. Waters Engineering has previously done work for the commission, including a runway extension.

The proposed hangar project includes the demolition of a 10-bay hangar that was destroyed by a tornado last spring. In its place a nine-bay T-hangar will be erected. That hangar will be a metal building with electric doors.

Funding for the project comes from the MoDOT aviation branch that distributes federal funding collected from an aviation fuel tax. Dexter has received MoDOT funding for the project

According to City Administrator Mark Stidham, several buildings at the airport were damaged by the storm. One hangar was slightly damaged, and that building is being repaired. The city had insurance on the buildings and the insurance money will be used for repairs and a five percent match to MoDot Aviation funding for the new building, Stidham said. The other building is the one targeted for demolishing. There are several privately owned hangars at the airport, and any damage to those is the responsibility of the owners, Stidham continued. The owners of those hangars have leases with the city for the land.

Chittenden said the city had budgeted $480,000 for the airport project, so all that was needed to begin work is the "concurrence" of MoDot Aviation.

Chittenden said the project must be completed by Dec. 15, 2008 to meet federal guidelines for receiving additional entitlement grants to cover 95 percent of the cost of the project.

The concrete and asphalt that currently is the base for the old hangar will be cut and removed, Stidham said. The nine-bay T-hangar has already been ordered by the city because of the deadline, Stidham added. City Aldermen previously approved the project, so that all that remains is final approval from MoDot Aviation.