Airport expansion on track: New hangar construction begins mid-July

Duplin Airport prepares for major upgrades, runway closure scheduled for August

KENANSVILLE — The Duplin County Airport Commission meeting was no ordinary meeting Tuesday night. June 24 was the last meeting for retiring board member Joe Bryant. Board members and guests honored Bryant with a standing ovation as well as shared memories of his roughly 35 years of service. “Joe Bryant has been an anchor to this board over the years he has been on it,” one member said. “He has made it his goal that every project we took on would be worth the money we spend on it.” The board unanimously said that Bryant was leaving with the door “always open anytime he wants to come” back to visit. Joe’s potential replacement, Gage King of Wallace, was also present at the meeting.

Tom Robare of ENC Aeromasters and Reuben Edwards shared their plan to collaborate together. Robare is coming from Johnson County to bring his expertise and experience working on planes for UMO and other clients to the airport facility. Edwards said it was time for him to start looking at retirement, and he saw this partnership as an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. “This is an opportunity to keep quality people at the airport,” he said. Robare and Edwards plan to work together over the next year in Edward’s hangar. If they work together well, it will become a transition towards Edwards’ retirement and Robare taking his place.

Justin Wright of Daniels and Daniels talked about construction of a new hangar building set to begin mid-July. He presented the budget and explained that “volatility in market prices” caused the estimated numbers to increase from $3.5 to 3.6 million. The budget includes $400,000 for repairs to existing hangars and a $100,000 contingency fund but it does not include coverage for soil excavation issues. Though the project is under contract, it is waiting on an amendment approval from the county. Wright said he felt certain that construction would not have to be held up waiting on change orders and approval. The overall construction project is expected to take a year. Board members expressed a desire to go ahead and market and pre-sale the increased space. Airport Director, Joshua Raynor, affirmed that he has already been talking to interested parties. It was suggested to also contact Gulf Stream to capture anyone building and likely to need a hangar in the area. Raynor also confirmed that the money needed for the project was already in the bank.

Hunter Boniface and Raynor then gave updates on other projects. Work on lighting and repaving the taxiway will close the taxiway briefly on July 8. Work to rejuvenate the runway will start Aug. 4. The airport will close for the whole week of Aug. 4 to accommodate the upgrade. A fuel farm redesign including a new privacy wall is currently taking bids. Raynor said that all the bids are under the $2 million budget but are still waiting on overall state approval. Once approved, the fuel farm project could start within six months. Board members encouraged Raynor to do further vetting of the bid contractor by researching other airports with similar projects. Land maintenance surveys are also being done concerning apron rehab design.

“The surveys will show what needs to be done such as removing trees then it will go on to Work Authorization for approval. Once they are happy with it, we can go ahead with a design,” Raynor said. Funding will be available in the 2027 fiscal year budget for the work. Raynor asked the board for insight on term lengths for the rental of their available farmland in the RPG. It was suggested that low cost and shorter terms of 2 years with an option for a third be used because of long term plans at the airport as well as current troubles in the agriculture world. The land will most likely be restricted to hay or pasture use. Raynor addressed the drainage issue at Corp Hangar 1A. Following board and county approval, a reinforced concrete trench was suggested to get water out of the hangar and keep it dry. Raynor closed out the meeting going over the operations budget and providing reports on operations and fuel. 16,380 gallons of fuel have been sold for the month, and there have been 614 operations. He reported that jet fuel has been lower this year than last, but it is going up $0.50 a gallon.