By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
City council members have accepted a $5 million federal grant and approved contracts for improvements at the Del Rio International Airport.
During Tuesday’s meeting, council members discussed three resolutions for completing the airport taxiways realignment project and the construction of a helipad at the Del Rio International Airport located at 1104 W. 10th St.
As mentioned in each resolution in the agenda packet provided to the council, the 2021 Airport Master Plan identified various short-term projects needed for the airport to comply with federal aviation regulations. The new taxiways and the addition of a helipad will enhance the safety on the runways and help the airport comply with those regulations.
The first resolution the council considered authorized City Manager Shawna Burkhart to accept a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the amount of $5,050,353.38 for taxiway realignment and a new helipad at the airport.
Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez made the motion to approve the resolution, and Councilman J.P. Sanchez gave the second.
Gutierrez asked what the 5 percent city match to the grant represents. As mentioned in the memo submitted by Juan Carlos Onofre, airport superintendent, 95 percent of the project funding will be provided by the FAA, and 5 percent will be funded by the city. Burkhart said the 5 percent city match totals $265,808.08.
The second resolution was to authorize and direct the city manager to approve a work order authorization in the amount of $510,314.49 to KSA Engineers Inc. The work order is for professional engineering services and construction administration for the airport taxiways relocation and construction of a helipad at the international airport.
Sanchez made the motion to approve the resolution, and Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. gave the second.
Gutierrez again asked what the 5 percent city match would be, and Burkhart said the amount to be paid by the city is $25,515.72. Mayor Al Arreola asked if the 95 percent funding for the project is coming from the grant, and Burkhart confirmed the larger percent of the project is coming from the FAA.
The third resolution was to authorize and direct the city manager to award a contract in the amount of $4,805,846.96 to AR6 Construction for the base bid schedules 1-3 and the additive alternative No. 2. for the airport taxiways relocation and construction of a helipad at the airport.
Gutierrez made the motion to approve the resolution, and Councilwoman Ernestina “Tina” Martinez gave the second. The council unanimously approved all three resolutions before moving on to the next topic in the agenda.
