The City Commission approved Wednesday a nearly $5 million contract for the demolition of a 34-year-old Dayton International Airport concourse that has been vacant since 1998.
“Concourse D was built in 1978 and it doesn’t meet today’s standards,” Terry Slaybaugh, city aviation director, told the commissioners.
The concourse originally housed Piedmont Airlines until the company was acquired by U.S. Airways. The concourse has been vacant since and costing the city money to maintain it.
Sunesis Construction of West Chester had the lowest and best bid of $4.97 million out of three bidders. The project is scheduled for completion late next year. The city had estimated the cost of the project at $7.2 million when it asked for bids.
Eliminating the concourse also will reduce security costs for the airport and create an additional three parking spots for large aircraft.
“We’ve been thinking about this since I’ve been here,” Commissioner Nan Whaley said in congratulating Slaybaugh on the contract.
Money for the project comes a $4.2 million federal grant and the remainder from the Aviation Capital fund. No General Fund money is involved. The General Fund pays for the city’s day-to-day operation.
The airport currently has $28 million in construction under contract this year.
In other business, the commissioners approved:
- A $75,000 purchase of software that will enable taxpayers to file their city taxes online. “It’s great any time we can make it easier on our customers,” Mayor Gary Leitzell said.
- Heard an update from the Division of Housing Inspection on the demolition of abandon buildings, showing the division had demolished or deconstructed 137 structures through the first nine months of the year, or 91 percent of 150-structure goal for the year. The city estimates there are more than 7,000 abandoned structures in the city.
- Unanimously passed an informal resolution urging voters to support the Dayton Metro Library Issue 70 in the November ballot.