Sept. 18--Construction of new T-hangars for lease to plane owners and increased revenues at the Kerrville airport moved a step closer with the selection of a contractor for the project.
The Kerrville-Kerr County Joint Airport Board voted Monday to select Lansford Company out of Lampasas as the general contractor and project manager for a proposal to build up to 12 new T-hangars. Lansford was one of six contractors to submit responses to a request for qualification for the project.
Robert Lansford, president of the company, flew in to Kerrville on Monday morning from Lampasas in a Mooney aircraft, built across the runway from the airport terminal at the facility that has ceased turning out planes.
The T-hangar project is being funded largely through federal funds set aside for local aviation projects through Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Division. If approved, those funds will pay up to $650,000.
The local airport board worked out a deal with TxDOT aviation for a design-build project that will allow the city and the county to contribute in-kind services for the construction, specifically site work and paving, and allow Lansford to manage the project locally. Normally, aviation projects funded through the state are managed out of Austin.
Because the project is a little different than others done at the airport, the contractor will work with the airport board to design the new T-hangars within the set budget. Airport board members have said they hope to get between 10 and 12 new T-hangars out of the project.
"We are going to give you the biggest bang for the buck," Lansford said.
Construction of the new T-hangars is expected to take 24 months but probably won't begin until early next year. Lansford is expected to bring back plans and cost estimates to the airport board later this year and will begin coordinating with the city and county on the project.
Airport manager Bruce McKenzie said he hopes site work will begin sometime after the holidays.
The airport, which is jointly owned by the city and the county, currently has 16 T-hangars, all of which are leased, and there is a waiting list for people who want to rent one. The airport board began looking at building new T-hangars almost two years ago in an effort to increase revenue and decrease the annual supplements from the city and the county.
This year, the city and the county contributed $90,000 each to the airport; however, that contribution is expected to go down next year in part due to increased revenue from the gated parking facility constructed this year.
The airport board also is looking at a new lease on another property at the facility, a privately built hangar, which the current tenant opted not to continue leasing. The board accepted three proposals Monday for that hangar and will discuss them during a closed session.
After the executive session, board president Stephen King said the board would seek more information from the three bidders and would consider awarding a new lease at a latter date.
Copyright 2013 - Kerrville Daily Times, Texas
