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Zephyrhills Airport Project Hits Fire Safety Cost Snag

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 21, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS - When city officials broke ground on the municipal airport expansion project at a ceremony in January, they had big dollar signs in their eyes.

The $2.7 million project, adding new hangar space for about 67 planes to the debt-ridden airport, promised to generate more than $17,000 a month in much-needed lease revenue for the city.

Demand was strong, with nearly 190 pilots waiting for hangar space.

And the best part: The Florida Department of Transportation was footing most of the bill with state grant money, freed up by the closing of the Tampa Bay Executive Airport.

Months later, the project is ahead of schedule, but the price tag is growing.

On Monday, the city council was presented with an unexpected $90,000 bill to add fire-protective flashing between the airplane hangars to prevent fuel spills from spreading.
Fire Marshal Kerry Barnett noticed the hangars didn't have the protective flashing in March when he conducted a routine inspection.

Airport manager Trina Sweet said the flashing was not included in the hangars because of a "misinterpretation" of the project's blueprints.

She said the contractor, Carr Construction, provided the blueprints.

Still, the mistake has pushed the project's cost over the $2.8 million mark at a time when the city is struggling with state-mandated property tax cuts and a leaner budget.

At Monday night's meeting, council members wrangled over who should pick up the tab.

Several suggested the FDOT should be paying for the added costs. Others asked if there was a cheaper alternative to installing the flashing.
Councilwoman Jodi Wilkeson proposed the city just pay the change-order bill and ask FDOT officials whether they would be willing to absorb the extra cost with grant money, but the council voted 3-2 against her motion.

In the end, the council approved another motion, 3-2, requesting the FDOT pay the bill, mindful that the city would be responsible for the costs if the request is rejected.

"We don't want to get stuck with this bill," said Councilman Clyde Bracknell.

Not installing the protective flashing would have delayed the project's completion.

Barnett, the fire marshal, said he won't approve the final construction plans until the flashing is installed.

"I'm not signing off on a project that's not what I feel is right for fire protection," he said.

Airport Authority Board chairman Dan Evans said he was reluctant to use city money for the protective flashing until the city was sure it was needed.

"I have a difficult time spending $90,000 of the citizens' money on something that may not be necessary," Evans said, "but this needs to be resolved, one way or another."

The former World War II training base's expansion project, set to be completed this fall, calls for seven hangars, each with enough room to house about 10 planes. The city already has built and improved taxiways and roads in anticipation of more traffic.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (727) 815-1082 or cwade@tampatrib.com.

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