HOULTON, Maine — Houlton town councilors gave their unanimous support Monday evening to a five-year proposal for engineering services at Houlton International Airport.
Stantec Consulting Services, a consulting firm based out of Scarborough, presented its preliminary 20-year master plan for the airport at a March 12 council meeting. In that study were plans for runway and taxiway reconstruction, new parking and additional hangars to be spread out over the next five years.
The current Houlton International Airport Master Plan that is in effect was published in 2002, explained Town Manager William MacDonald. Stantec has provided consulting services to the town since 2003.
MacDonald said the Federal Aviation Administration determines eligibility for Airport Improvement Program funding based on the Airport Master Plan, with a 20-year forecasting model, thus the need to have a more current document in place.
“The acceptance tonight will only be for the engineering firm that oversees all of the airport management (including) federal funds that we get,” the town manager said. “They will also work out the list of priorities for projects.”
Stantec was one of two firms to respond to a request for bids on the engineering study. DuBois and King, an engineering firm with locations in Vermont and New Hampshire, also submitted a proposal.
The consultants’ approval, however, did not come without some questions from councilors. Board member Rosa McNally asked if the town was setting itself up for financial obligations to all of the proposed projects at the airport, which total more than $12.5 million.
The Federal Aviation Administration pays for 90 percent of the project costs, with the Maine Department of Transportation and the town each picking up the remaining 5 percent.
“This is a $12.5 million project over the next five years,” McNally said. “That would be a cost to the town exceeing $625,000. Have we identified how we will pay for that? If we approve their services, are we obligating ourselves to that 5 percent total?”
MacDonald said the town was not giving automatic approval to all of the projects spelled out in the Stantec report and that each phase of construction would involve going out to bid and council action before proceeding.
“By approving (Stantec) tonight, we are just keeping the process going forward, which also gives us $150,000 a year in federal money that comes to the airport,” he said. “It will be a continuous work in progress.”
