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During its Wednesday meeting, the Suffolk City Council approved additional funding for replacing a fueling system dispenser at the Suffolk Executive Airport. 

The city will accept an additional $1,877.50 from the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Aviation for additional expenses to the AvGas dispenser. The funds will be received into the Aviation Facilities Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.

“Adoption of the ordinance will increase the revenues’ expenditures of the Aviation Facilities Fund budget by $1,877.50,” said City Manager Albert S. Moor II during the meeting. “Local match of $1,877.50 is required.”

Director of Economic Development Nicolas Langford provided more details on the funding.

“This was a $1,877.50 change order for an existing grant from the Virginia Department of Aviation to help replace the self-serve fuel dispenser at the airport, which is outdated,” Langford said. 

Langford said the change was due to emergency shut-off valves found in unsuitable working order, and a new system had to be integrated to coordinate with the city’s point-of-sale software. He notes that both were unforeseen by the original bid’s contractor Oessco (Oil Equipment Sales and Service Company, Inc.). 

“The total cost to replace the dispenser is $15,993. The Department of Aviation is funding half of the improvements, and the City is funding the other half,” Langford continued. “The new pump will help the airport by offering transient aircraft the opportunity to fuel up their planes whenever they want.”