Carson City Airport terminal to be refurbished

The Carson City Airport Authority decided to refurbish Carson City’s dilapidated airport terminal rather than raze it.

But first the authority will work with a contractor to make sure the building is worth saving.

The authority voted Wednesday to award an $89,000 contract to Professional Home Developers, Inc., the only responsive bidder, to repair and replace the terminal’s roof and mitigate mold inside.

But first up to $2,5000 will be allocated to have the contractor further investigate the building structure to determine if its salvageable before proceeding.

The proposed alternative was to demolish the building and install a temporary mobile trailer office at the site.

Four bids ranging from $17,900 to $20,000 came in to tear down the building.

The cost of the trailer was estimated at $56,000, but that didn’t include set up costs which would likely raise the overall tab to $60,000 or more.

Vice Chairman Don Peterson said that solution assumed the airport would soon find the money to build a new terminal.

Chairman Karl Hutter agreed, saying if the terminal is torn down the airport office would be in a mobile trailer for a long time.

“We ought to be awfully careful about a bird in the hand,” he said. “It may be an ugly bird but it’s a bird in hand.”

The authority also voted to work on a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Marine Corps to conduct operations at the airport June 18.

If the MOU can’t be negotiated by May 15, a deadline specified by the Marines, the event will not take place.

The Marines plan to bring in 12 aircraft, hold operations primarily at night, and billet 200 people at the airport.

The day coincides with the airport’s open house, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., although the Marines wouldn’t arrive until 4 p.m.

In other actions, the authority also approved a contract with Atkins North America for construction management services for the north ramp apron project; voted to allow airport tenants to obtain over the counter permits from the city for minor work to their facilities without prior airport authority approval; and to continue monitoring the design and progress of a proposed RV park just east of the airport.