The Bradford Regional Airport Authority is selling 23 acres of
timber from the National Guard area of the property to Kane
Hardwood.
The company was the winning bidder with a price tag of $24,165.
Also bidding on the property were Payne Enterprises with a quote of
$10,927.51 and New Growth Resources, which submitted a bid of
$14,393. Both companies are in Kane.
The development of a Pennsylvania National Guard Armory at the
airport is part of the 56th Brigade’s transformation to a Stryker
Brigade as part of an overhaul of the country’s armed forces.
Also at the meeting, the authority executed an engineering
agreement with Lee Simpson Associates of DuBois for $15,727 for the
2007 Wetland Mitigation Area Monitoring Report.
According to Ed Nasuti, president that firm, which is the
authority’s consulting engineer, four years ago when a safety area
was built at the end of a runway, some wetlands were intruded.
The Department of Environmental Protection requires the
authority to file annual reports for five years showing that the
wetlands have been restored and still functioning.
Several subcontractor agreements were approved for the
construction of a new taxiway that runs parallel to Runway 32.
These agreements were with Bronder Technical Services for
electrical work and Heaton Painting Contractors for painting the
runway. Both projects have been started.
In another matter, the authority approved several change orders
for projects at the airport. One of those changes, amounting to
$18,200, is for replacing an electrical line for the new sewage
treatment system.
A second change order is for a series of items and materials for
the sewage and water project and installation of a hazardous light
on the water tower at the entrance to the airport. This amounts to
$25,239.03.
The authority approved a cooperative contract with the U.S.
Department of Agriculture for $1,520 to have a certified wildlife
biologist provide annual training in the identification of
potential wildlife hazards at the airport, as mandated by the
Federal Aviation Administration.
Also discussed at the meeting were the ongoing efforts of the
airport’s carrier to change its hub. Colgan Air Inc. still serves
the airport under U.S. Airways/Express and continues to work on
plans for changing hub cities from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.
Available gate space at Dulles International Airport in Washington
remains an issue. Even with a new arrangement, passengers would
still have the ability to connect with US Airways flights at
Dulles.
Airport Director Tom Frungillo reported several items to the
authority members. During May, 100 percent of the scheduled flights
were completed, he said.
Frungillo also mentioned that a bill has been introduced in
Congress that airports in economically depressed areas could
qualify for 100 percent funding levels provided they meet certain
criteria. Currently, federal funding for capital improvement
projects stands at 95 percent, with the state and local
contributions each at 2.5 percent.
There is a McKean County vacancy on the authority. County
Commissioner Chairman Cliff Lane, who also serves as authority
chairman, said the authority’s advisory board is to make a
recommendation to the county commissioners for an appointment. It
could be several months before a recommendation is made, he
said.
The airport tour, which was scheduled for Wednesday, was
postponed until July.
