The future of the old terminal at the airport is still up in the air, but the city's airport board wants a decision on what's going to happen to it by March 15.
At Tuesday's monthly meeting, the airport board voted to put requirements on any agreement regarding use of the old terminal. In late December, Aberdeen's Blackstone Developers and the Federal Aviation Administration met to discuss possible uses for the building. The old terminal had been slated for demolition this winter, but Blackstone expressed interest in putting an express shipping company in the building.
However, city Transportation Director Dave Osborn said on Tuesday that he hasn't heard whether Blackstone is still interested.
"It's possible they may be waiting on us to do something," he said.
The airport board recommended to the city that the following requirements be set for the building:
Rent would be $5 per square foot unimproved annually.
The renter would pay the utilities.
The deadline date for an agreement would be March 15.
The renter would have to rent all of the approximately 15,000 square feet.
The board made the recommendations with the idea that they could later be negotiated.
The old terminal has been empty since 2004, when the Transportation Security Administration office was moved out.
Even if Blackstone is interested, the FAA would still have to approve. The federal government must approve any uses for the terminal because federal money was used to construct the building about 50 years ago.
If a use isn't found for the terminal, it will be demolished.
Blackstone's managing partner, Norg Sanderson, was not available for comment Tuesday.
In other action Tuesday, the airport board:
Approved a pay request to Helms & Associates for $8,925.64 for an airport layout plan update. The set of drawings needs to be updated periodically to show updates and future projects at the airport.
Reviewed bids for a snow removal equipment building, and then approved a low bid of $1,155,443.30 from Steel Structures of Aberdeen Inc. Under the funding estimates, the city would have to contribute $218,970.95.
Approved a request to replace a GMC Suburban using 2006 capital funds. Osborn said, in talks with City Attorney Adam Altman, it was decided a state contract allowing other state agencies to purchase a new Suburban for $18,500 would be used unless the bid could be matched or passed by local dealerships. Lust Chevrolet couldn't match the bid, but Johnson Motors could. An old GMC Suburban was declared surplus property pending the purchase of the new one.
Approved a $1,046 key switch for the baggage handling conveyor. Osborn said the key switch needs to be purchased to get in line with security requirements by the Transportation Security Administration.
Approved a request to advertise for bids on the city hangar. The hangar is currently rented to a private company, but every five years that agreement comes up for renewal.
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