Pellston Regional Airport building project contact information
The contact person for DeVere Construction of Alpena is Luke Gerhart; he can be reached at lgerhart@deverecc.us, or by calling (989) 356-4411.
Up to 20 different subcontractors will be needed for the multi-million facility that will house snow removal and airport emergency equipment. For further information on the project, click here.
Pellston Regional Airport awarded $5 million grant
Pellston Regional Airport has been awarded a $5 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to be used toward construction of a Snow Removal Equipment and Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting facility (SRE/ARFF).
The grant award was announced Aug. 18 by the office of Congressman Bart Stupak, who represents the 1st District which includes Emmet County.
Jim Tamlyn, Chairman of the Emmet County Board of Commissioners, recognized the efforts of Stupak and Michigan’s U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow in helping secure funding for this significant local project.
“This funding ensures that the SRE/ARFF project will move ahead as planned, bringing up to 100 jobs for local residents with it,” Tamlyn said. “Without the assistance of Congressman Stupak and Senators Levin and Stabenow, this award would not have been possible.
Watch an interview with Emmet County Board of Commissioners’ Chairman Jim Tamlyn on 7 & 4 News discuss the project by clicking here or on the image.
“The impact on our community from this construction project will be tremendous. For more than a year it will put our neighbors, friends and family to work. Further, it will address a real need we have at Pellston Regional Airport -- for a sufficient and efficient structure to house the required equipment needed to run an airport.”
The SRE/ARFF project is expected to cost in total about $8 million. The large award from the federal government, culled from discretionary funds, will be supplemented with additional entitlement money from state and federal sources. Emmet County’s portion of the project will be $189,000, which will come from the general fund.
Construction on the 35,000 square foot facility is expected to start this fall. Construction Manager DeVere Construction, of Alpena, is presently in the process of awarding bids to approximately 20 subcontractors for the various facets of the project.
The building will house the airport’s T-1500 fire truck and all fire equipment. It will also shelter three 22-foot snowplows, two large snow blowers, two large front-end loaders and about 20 smaller vehicles. It will also be the base for the UNICOM communications operations and serve as the fire station and training facility.
Airport Manager Kelley Atkins said the SRE/ARFF building has been in the airport’s mandatory 10-year capital projects plan for many years. He said securing the funding has been an ongoing effort that involved developing building plans that the Federal Aviation Administration determined were eligible for funding.
“This grant recognizes the airport’s impact on the entire Northern Michigan region and the continuing efforts and leadership of Emmet County’s Board of Commissioners to ensure it remains a viable, convenient option for travelers,” said Atkins. “I’m thrilled, and we look forward to putting people to work on this important project.”
Stupak added his comments about the significance of the airport as well.
“Pellston Regional Airport is essential to business and personal travel across Northern Michigan,” Stupak said. “Having an exceptional facility and the proper equipment to keep travelers safe will only make Pellston that much more beneficial to the surrounding communities. I am pleased the FAA has recognized Pellston’s need for this funding and that in the coming months construction will begin, putting members of the community to work to improve the airport’s infrastructure.”
Airport manager clarifies facts about new facility at Pellston Regional Airport
It has come to the attention of Emmet County officials that there is misinformation circulating in the public regarding the snow removal and emergency equipment facility to be constructed at Pellston Regional Airport.
As the airport manager, I would like to clarify the facts of the project to improve the public’s understanding:
- The Snow Removal Equipment and Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Facility (SRE/ARFF) will be approximately 35,000 square feet in size and it will be located to the south of the terminal. It will house fire trucks and equipment, snow removal equipment and other large-scale items related to airport operations.
- The engineer’s estimate of the building’s cost is $8,238,000. Of that total cost, 95 percent will be paid for by Federal Aviation Administration funding. Those dollars are generated from airport users, such as through fuel sales and airline ticket taxes. The money is not generated by taxpayers from property taxes, sales tax, gas tax, etc.
The remaining 5 percent of the cost will be paid for with state and local dollars. In total, Emmet County’s portion of this project amounts to $189,000, which will come from the General Fund. I would like to reiterate that Emmet County taxpayers are not funding the $8.238 million project. - Because this building is deemed funding-eligible from the FAA, it means both the plans and the scope of the project have been determined to be necessary by the federal agency.
- DeVere Construction of Alpena is the construction manager. Approximately 20 subcontractors will be awarded bids on the various components of the project.
- This project will provide approximately 100 jobs, the vast majority of them local residents.
- Construction is expected to begin in the fall, with work completed in 2011.
- The SRE/ARFF will house the airport’s T-1500 fire truck and all fire equipment. It will also house three 22-foot snow plows, two large snow blowers, two large front-end loaders, and about 20 smaller vehicles ranging from de-icing equipment to pick-up trucks. This is extremely expensive equipment that the airport is required to have on hand in the event of an emergency and/or inclement weather. It needs to be stored in a sufficient structure to keep it protected and well-maintained to ensure its longevity.
I would urge anyone in the public who has questions about this project to please contact me at (231) 539-8441
Thank you,
Kelley Atkins
Pellston Regional Airport Manager
Construction manager selected for Pellston airport project
Petoskey, Michigan – March 18, 2010 – DeVere Construction has been selected by Emmet County to provide construction management services for the maintenance and emergency equipment facility planned at Pellston Regional Airport.
The Alpena firm was one of five chosen to be interviewed earlier this week by the county’s Buildings and Grounds Committee. More than 20 companies from around Michigan provided their qualifications to be considered.
The estimated $7 million-plus project is slated to start by September, with completion within 12 to 18 months. The SRE/ARFF building – snow removal and airport rescue and fire fighting facility – will be approximately 35,000 square feet in size and be located to the south of the terminal. It will house fire trucks and equipment, snow removal equipment and other large-scale items related to airport operations.
By hiring a construction manager to oversee the project, local subcontractors and craftsmen will have the opportunity to bid on up to 25 different components of the project, such as electrical, plumbing, carpentry, masonry and paving. Firms who applied for the construction manager position were notified they would not be able to use their own crews for the subcontracting jobs. This was part of the county’s intentional effort to provide as many local jobs on-site as possible, regardless of home-base for the selected construction management firm.
“It’s very important for Emmet County to do everything we can to see that local contractors get to participate in this project,” said Kelley Atkins, airport manager and Emmet County’s director of transportation and development.
Dick Crittenden, president of DeVere, said his priority will be on using as many local laborers as possible. In mid- to late May, he plans a “Contractors’ Town Hall” meeting where he and his team will invite all those interested in bidding on parts of the project to learn more about the bidding process and how to work within the parameters set by the Federal Aviation Administration and the federal and state agencies which are funding the majority of the project through grants.
“Our mission here is to make sure the local contractors get the best and first crack at everything we’re going to do,” he said. “At the town hall meeting, we’ll be providing information about the project, how they can qualify to be part of the job and giving them information about bonding and insuring, so they know what to expect.”
DeVere is not new to projects in Emmet County. Several years ago the firm handled the $6 million expansion to the city of Petoskey’s wastewater treatment facility. This summer, DeVere will also be heading up the marina renovation project at Petoskey’s waterfront. Other regional projects overseen by the firm include the Cross in the Woods gathering area in Indian River; a sewage plant in Boyne City; a wood mill in Grayling; and multiple expansions of the casino and hotel in Manistee. DeVere has also done several buildings similar to what is planned for the airport, including at the National Guard base in Alpena and at Camp Grayling.
The firm, founded by Crittenden’s parents, Bruce and Hazel in 1967, employs 125.
“The first job I did there in Petoskey was in 1978, an expansion to the Emmet County Medical Care Facility,” said Crittenden. “Working in the area is not new to us. We know the contractors and we like working there.”
DeVere’s commitment to relationship-building and its experience in large-volume facilities were among the qualities sought by the committee, according to county controller Lyn Johnson, who attended the interviews.
“Developing this relationship with DeVere over the long term will serve Emmet County very well, with the contacts they have and that they’re developing,” said Johnson.
The building is currently in the design phase. Next, Devere staff will meet with the architects to divide up the various sections of the project to maximize the use of local contractors, said Paul Powers, business unit leader- architecture with Mead & Hunt, the Wisconsin-based firm responsible for the design. Mead & Hunt also oversaw the airport terminal project, completed in 2003.
“Because there’s federal money involved, it’s going to be a big project,” said Powers. “There are not a lot of firms locally that would be able to get a bond in that amount. This way, there’s a great opportunity for more participation from local contractors.”
He said his firm looks forward to working with DeVere, whose team presented a thorough understanding of the project’s parameters.
“They have a sense of integrity that matches ours, and they focus on ‘How do we best serve the customer?’ They have that attitude to roll up their sleeves and help out,” Powers said. “They have a good sense of cooperation. They’ll serve the county well.”
County commissioner Jim Tamlyn, who serves on the Buildings and Grounds Committee with commissioners Jack Jones and Tom Foltz, said the decision was not easy, as the top five candidates all brought positive attributes to the table.
“Any one of the five was more than qualified to build the building,” said Tamlyn. “It became, who did we feel had the most experience, and who did we feel the most comfortable with, and even that was a tough decision down to the end. Their discussion about working to prequalify local bidders to help the local guys get a chance at doing this was our goal with the construction manager. Our bottom line was to put local people to work on this project.”
Construction management fees have not been determined, but will be a certain percentage of the overall project once that is determined.
For more information about DeVere, go online to www.devere.tv.