Stevensville council considers Energy Systems LLC contract for new airport fuel farm; final execution tied to FAA grant

Council members discussed a contract with Energy Systems LLC to construct a new fuel tank/fuel farm at the town airport and recorded a motion to approve the contract. Council member Barker moved to approve the Energy Systems LLC contract; Council member Smith seconded. Councilors asked questions about bid amount, grant funding, contract review, and availability of drawings; staff answered that the contract matches the low bid from April and that the estimated bid amount at that time was $425,000.

Town staff explained that the official FAA grant offer had been received previously and that the town voted on the grant at a prior meeting. Staff reported the grant offer was signed and returned and that the grant documents are now with the FAA; execution of the construction contract is the last administrative step before the town receives funding and schedules installation of the tank. “The FAA is definitely a little slower this year, about a month behind what they normally [are] in issuing these grants,” a staff member said, describing the timeline.

The council asked whether the project drawings and specifications, prepared by Morris and Marley and included in earlier procurement documents (the RFQ/RFP), had been presented to the council. Staff agreed the drawings were part of the RFQ and said they would distribute the documents to council members and post them as an informational item so the public can see the proposed location of the new fuel farm. The town attorney reviewed the contract and will sign after council action and final approval.

The transcript records the motion and discussion but does not record a roll-call vote or the final outcome for the contract in the available excerpt. Staff indicated the contract execution is contingent on final FAA processing and attorney signature.