City awards airport fuel farm contract, approves drainage channel

Above is the fuel farm at the Castroville airport, which is similar to Devine’s.

Titan Fuels will be the fuel provider at the Devine Municipal Airport’s new fuel farm after the Devine City Council awarded them the contract to do so at the Regular meeting held last Thursday, April 23.

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AV Fuels also applied to be the fuel provider, but Airport Manager Vickey Pumphrey, Public Works Director Ismael Carrillo, and Public Works Superintendent Rob Flores all recommended Titan.

“For those of you who are new to this, when we get multiple bids, lots of times some of our City staff will sit down and create a rating system,” Mayor Cory Thompson said.

District 5 Councilwoman Debra Randall pointed out that AV Fuels’ bid didn’t include any training on how to operate the fuel farm.

A motion from District 3 Councilman David Espinosa and District 1 Councilman Rufino “Flipper” Vega passed 5-0.

Airport drainage channel

Council received two quotes for the construction of a drainage channel and the grading and repair of the apron at the airport.

The first quote, at $40,000, utilized an earthen channel for drainage. City Engineer Raul Garcia said that after Airport Advisory Board members mentioned a gopher problem, a $55,500 bid that included riprap stone and concrete was crafted.

“It would be a more permanent solution,” Garcia said.

The project also includes regrading an area between hangars and replacing asphalt that was installed with no base layer.

Airport Manager Vickie Pumphrey said the airport qualifies for $20,000 from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) grant, which can be used for this project.

“The airport’s our airport,” Mayor Cory Thompson said. “It’s our baby, we’ve got to take care of it, so we’re going to have to do something.”

A motion by Espinosa and Vega to approve the $55,500 plan passed 5-0.

By Marly Davis

Staff Writer

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