JRAA wants terminal lights fixed

Talk about it

The Jamestown Regional Airport Authority discussed possible solutions to a problem with some of the lights on the exterior of its new terminal Wednesday.

The lights have been secured with safety devices since two of them fell from the underside of the airport roof.

However, parts of the lights move with the wind, which puts them under mechanical stress, and also prevents them from hanging straight down as they were meant to do.

The issue is a design problem that designers at consulting firm EAPC are responsible for, the JRAA agreed Wednesday, and the firm will have to pay for replacing the lights or providing a permanent fix for them that would leave them hanging correctly.

Replacing the lights with alternatives would cost approximately $11,000, at a cost of $750 to $850 per light fixture.

“You don’t feel any responsibility for the fix?” said Cory Vaughn, of EAPC.

“Why should we?” asked JRAA member Jeff Wilhelm.

Jamestown Mayor Katie Andersen, who is also a member of the Airport Authority, said the JRAA is not trying to cost EAPC money, and would be interested in finding a less expensive solution to the problem if possible.

“The additional cost is not acceptable to the airport board,” said Chairman Jim Boyd, adding that if a more economical solution could be found, the JRAA would consider it, “but right now, we’re not in a position to write a check for another $11,000.”

In other news Wednesday, the JRAA:

* agreed to pay Zimmerman Contracting of Bismarck $18,756 for crack-sealing.

* agreed on a preliminary lot plan for the western quarter of the airport’s land, so that it can be platted for possible development. The plan will include lots of approximately 5 acres, as well as two larger lots of approximately 8 acres.

* heard that 261 passengers had boarded planes at the JRA in October, and that 235 had already boarded in November.

* agreed to increase the salary of Ben Maulding by 4.5 percent or $1,500. Maulding is the airport’s operations/aircraft rescue and firefighting specialist.

* discussed the performance review of Airport Manager Matt Leitner and voted to increase his salary by 4.5 percent.

Rated on factors including availability, dependability, initiative, job knowledge and productivity, Leitner received 31 excellent ratings, 18 above average ratings, one satisfactory rating and no unsatisfactory ratings, from the five airport board members who filled out the performance appraisal forms.

Sun reporter Kari Lucin can be reached at 701-952-8453 or by email at klucin

@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, airport