MONROE - The new Monroe Municipal Airport terminal project got its lift wires Tuesday, July 9.
The Airport Board of Management voted unanimously to move ahead with the project's construction phase, after Airport Engineering Specialist Mike Gabor of the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics notified them by email early Tuesday, saying they have a total of $1.02 million "to work with."
The project was caught underfunded, when bids for construction came in $200,000 over the expected cost of $650,000 for the basic terminal plan.
Gabor announced that $198,000 in additional federal funding would come from Boyceville, which agreed to lend its expiring federal funds for the project.
Airport boards from other communities could donate their unused, expiring FFA funds to Monroe or exchange current funds for a similar amount from Monroe in the future. Gabor said another $90,000 of expiring FFA funds may be available, but the Bureau couldn't confirm that for a couple of weeks.
The state expects to contract with Gilbank Construction Inc., of Clinton, for $864,500. A contract approval by the state in July means construction could get started in August, and it needs to begin then in order for the structure to be enclosed by winter, Gabor noted.
Design, inspections, administration costs and contingency set-aside for the entire project total an additional $152,000.
Federal funding through the FAA will cover $948,000, about 93 percent, of the total cost for the project. Of that amount, the Monroe Airport has about $750,000, saved from five years of entitlements in FAA funds. The state and the city airport will contribute $33,725 each, as their share in matching funds.
All airport projects must be approved by the state aeronautics bureau, which manages the FFA entitlements to Wisconsin airports.
The Monroe Airport Board had hoped the project would be finished by the end of the year, but the project was almost derailed when the unexpected high construction bids were opened by the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics May 23 in Madison.
Three companies bid to build the 1,650-sq.ft. terminal, and all three bid about the same price, about $850,000.
An optional, 350-sq.ft. community meeting room, which was estimated at additional $150,000, was bid at $134,000.
To bridge the funding gap, Gabor looked for expiring FFA funds at airports across the state, and the project's drafting engineer, Robert Wheat of Senektekt in Monroe, cut about $104,500 of construction cost out of the building plans.
The most noticeable design changes include a straight-front, southern wall, rather than the more architecturally modern curved entrance - for a savings of $30,000; and metal wall panels and studs, instead of precast walls and a northside berm - for a savings of $32,000. The building will sit about two feet higher out of the ground, saving $12,000, and a construction superintendent will be replaced with standard supervision most of the time - for a savings of $18,000.
The airport board approved the design changes in order to keep the airport's meeting room in the plan. Some board members said community members wanted the added meeting space, and aeronautics specialists at the state bureau agreed that it would be an asset to the airport terminal.
The City of Monroe Plan Commission approved the design changes Wednesday, July 10.
If the state aeronautics bureau finds more money for the Monroe project, it would not be used to replace any of the structural changes at this point.
However, Gabor listed other ways the money could be used: metal roofing, recessed floor mats/grates, antennae tower, flagpole and light, tackboards and wainscot in the restrooms.
The Airport Board of Management voted unanimously to move ahead with the project's construction phase, after Airport Engineering Specialist Mike Gabor of the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics notified them by email early Tuesday, saying they have a total of $1.02 million "to work with."
The project was caught underfunded, when bids for construction came in $200,000 over the expected cost of $650,000 for the basic terminal plan.
Gabor announced that $198,000 in additional federal funding would come from Boyceville, which agreed to lend its expiring federal funds for the project.
Airport boards from other communities could donate their unused, expiring FFA funds to Monroe or exchange current funds for a similar amount from Monroe in the future. Gabor said another $90,000 of expiring FFA funds may be available, but the Bureau couldn't confirm that for a couple of weeks.
The state expects to contract with Gilbank Construction Inc., of Clinton, for $864,500. A contract approval by the state in July means construction could get started in August, and it needs to begin then in order for the structure to be enclosed by winter, Gabor noted.
Design, inspections, administration costs and contingency set-aside for the entire project total an additional $152,000.
Federal funding through the FAA will cover $948,000, about 93 percent, of the total cost for the project. Of that amount, the Monroe Airport has about $750,000, saved from five years of entitlements in FAA funds. The state and the city airport will contribute $33,725 each, as their share in matching funds.
All airport projects must be approved by the state aeronautics bureau, which manages the FFA entitlements to Wisconsin airports.
The Monroe Airport Board had hoped the project would be finished by the end of the year, but the project was almost derailed when the unexpected high construction bids were opened by the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics May 23 in Madison.
Three companies bid to build the 1,650-sq.ft. terminal, and all three bid about the same price, about $850,000.
An optional, 350-sq.ft. community meeting room, which was estimated at additional $150,000, was bid at $134,000.
To bridge the funding gap, Gabor looked for expiring FFA funds at airports across the state, and the project's drafting engineer, Robert Wheat of Senektekt in Monroe, cut about $104,500 of construction cost out of the building plans.
The most noticeable design changes include a straight-front, southern wall, rather than the more architecturally modern curved entrance - for a savings of $30,000; and metal wall panels and studs, instead of precast walls and a northside berm - for a savings of $32,000. The building will sit about two feet higher out of the ground, saving $12,000, and a construction superintendent will be replaced with standard supervision most of the time - for a savings of $18,000.
The airport board approved the design changes in order to keep the airport's meeting room in the plan. Some board members said community members wanted the added meeting space, and aeronautics specialists at the state bureau agreed that it would be an asset to the airport terminal.
The City of Monroe Plan Commission approved the design changes Wednesday, July 10.
If the state aeronautics bureau finds more money for the Monroe project, it would not be used to replace any of the structural changes at this point.
However, Gabor listed other ways the money could be used: metal roofing, recessed floor mats/grates, antennae tower, flagpole and light, tackboards and wainscot in the restrooms.