At the scheduled monthly meeting of the Port Authority Governing Board on Thursday, members approved modifications to ongoing projects and renewed the lease of a marine transportation company. The meeting took place at Port Authority headquarters near the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas.
Board members voted to upgrade the cybersecurity for electronic systems at the St. Thomas airport. There was also an advisory about the suspension of services by the regional air carrier LIAT.
And because the January session is the first for the calendar year 2024, elections took place for governing board leaders. Willard John, Derek Gabriel, and Kevin Rodriguez were reelected as chairman, vice chairman and secretary, respectively.
Most action items considered on Thursday were tied to runway repair and maintenance at Cyril E. King and at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix. One measure authorized VIPA to direct consultant American Infrastructure Development to improve part of the Rohlsen Airport runway apron not previously included in an existing plan.
Executive Director Carlton Dowe explained the agency received a notice from the Federal Aviation Administration about available grant funding. If VIPA had a shovel-ready project they’d like to have funded, the FAA invited them to apply, Dowe said.
An amount not to exceed $143,074.25 was approved to add work for part of the runway apron between the Rohlsen terminal and the maintenance buildings.
An edge drainage system along the Alpha West Taxiway at the St. Thomas airport received funding as part of a change order. The amount approved to rehabilitate an existing drainage system was $89,481.50. Additional funds, not to exceed $16,912.56, were approved for taxiway signage.
Hi-Lite Airfield Services, LLC was approved to receive $368,458.08 to improve an asphalt runway at King Airport. Board members meeting Thursday accepted a VIPA staff recommendation to amend an existing contract with Hi-Lite.
Successful asphalt rehabilitation would extend the useful life of the pavement, said Territorial Airport Manager Jerome Sheridan.
The amount of $35,800 was approved for contractors working on St. John to expand the covered seating section on the Loredon Boynes Sr. Ferry Terminal. The funds were approved to cover overhead costs incurred by the contractor during the 2023 St. John celebration when VIPA asked them to slow the work schedule.
Dowe said expanding the covered seating area and constructing a public bathroom by the terminal entryway has taken more time than expected. Senior Construction Manager Carlton Charleswell said the authority hopes to wrap up the St. John project before celebration time rolls around again.
Smith’s Ferry Service was granted a new three-year lease with a two-year option to renew. Rent for office and counter space at the Edward W. Blyden Terminal will be $10,920 a year.
The St. Thomas-to-Tortola service provider was also approved for additional storage space at the Blyden Terminal.
The board also approved $161,839.31 for Allied Universal Technology Services to upgrade safety and security access software, keeping computerized systems at King Airport free from online intruders.
Three additional items were approved in a closed-door executive session. Those actions addressed a collective bargaining deal and, in a separate matter, ratification of a settlement with Inter Island Boat Services.
Board members also voted to name the St. Thomas airport parking terminal, now under construction, after Dale A. Gregory, former VIPA director of engineering.
