Published: November 07, 2008 03:46 pm            

Short night for council

In a short and relatively quick meeting Tuesday night, the Pella City Council approved the request to set Dec. 2, 2008, as the Public Hearing Date for Amending the FY 08-09 Annual Budget.

The reason for the amendment is to adjust timing differences for capital improvement projects and to adjust accounts that may be over/under funded. All adjustments will be covered by additional revenues or existing funds. Therefore, there will not be an increase in taxes or fees as a result of the amendment.

Council also approved a resolution to approve an Airport Engineering Services Contract for the Airport Truck and Associated Snow Removal Equipment.

Annually, the Pella Municipal Airport receives approximately $150,000 of entitlement funds from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These funds are designated by the FAA to be used for equipment or other capital needs of the airport. The airport commission and staff would like to designate these funds and additional entitlement funds to replace the airport’s 1989 truck. Last winter, this truck’s transmission had to be rebuilt and currently, the truck is not functioning properly.

Staff is recommending the purchase of a single-axle dump truck with an eleven foot plow. In order to use FAA entitlement funds, the FAA guidelines require that an engineer must prepare the specifications. We propose using the City Engineer, Snyder & Associates, for this purpose.

The reasons for utilizing entitlement funds for the replacement of the truck are as follows:

-The increased business aircraft traffic at the airport requires faster and more reliable snow removal.

-The current truck is late 1989 vintage and is due for replacement. The current truck is requiring an increasing level of maintenance each year and any major problem with the truck could make the repair cost prohibitive.

-FAA entitlement funds must be used within three years or they will be made available to other airports. Currently, we have $56,144 of 2006 entitlement money that must be obligated by December 2008 or we will lose the funds.

The approximate cost for the truck and attachments, including engineering will be in the range of $118,000. The City’s expected local match of 5% for the truck would be in the range of $5,900. This amount will be funded in part by the sale of the current truck.

The proposed contract with Snyder and Associates is in the amount of $8,023.01 for development of bid specifications for the truck and assistance with the truck procurement process under FAA guidelines.

Under the terms of the contract, the engineer will not proceed with any work until authorization is given by the City. Staff will not give this authorization until we have written documentation from the FAA that they are supportive of the truck purchase.

The Airport Commission approved the use of entitlement funds for the replacement of a truck at their October 27, 2008 meeting.

        

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