Mt. Vernon Register-News

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January 10, 2013

Budget adjustments approved

By RICK HAYES rick.hayes@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — — Budget adjustments, based on recommendations from contractors and engineers involved in the Innovation Park project at Mt. Vernon Airport, were approved by commissioners on Tuesday.

The project is in two phases — the ramp/roadway portion is a $580,000 project. Bids are expected to be let in March by the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics. The remaining part of the project calls for the construction of a hangar at an estimated cost of $360,000. That portion of the project is now expected to cost an additional $3,000 due to additional site work and utility relocation that is needed, according to contractors who attended a pre-bid meeting earlier this month.

Total cost of the entire project is projected to be $409,000. The airport’s local share is $29,000 on the ramp/roadway project.

Bids for the hangar portion of the project will be opened on Jan. 17.

“At our prebid meeting, we had a room full of contractors. That is exciting because with that amount of interest, we think it might translate into lower bids,” said Airport Manager Chris Collins, who indicated the Airport Authority will have a special meeting on Jan. 22 to approve the bid, or if they come in higher than expected, discuss alternative project plans with architect Brian Edmison and Project Manager Kerry Lipps.

The hangar project has been financed at $380,000 through Bean Capital Banking Center in Wayne City, with proceeds off the airport. No taxpayer funds will be expended for the project, Collins said previously. Collins said if bids come in lower than the estimated $363,000, airport officials will use the rest of the money to finish the interior of the office building. Airport officials plan to use their own maintenance personnel for labor on the office building.

The ramp/roadway portion of the project has changed in scope in that the layout of the roadway, which was going to run parallel with Illinois 15, is now going to run parallel with the north-south runway and behind the maintenance building. Collins said the new layout will require additional fill for the roadway, although the move is expected to enhance the public parking lot and create potential future growth.

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Mt. Vernon Police blocked a portion of North Ninth Street Wednesday morning about 11 a.m. after reports the brick facade of the apartment building at the corner of Ninth and Maple streets was falling to the ground. The bricks took out cable lines, awnings and were landing on the street.