Failing public address system replacement causes mixed signals for SRQ airport board
MANATEE -- A request to upgrade the public address system at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is causing some static with its authority board members.
The airport is in the midst of a $6.6 million renovation of its terminal, and it's time to replace the failing public address system now that the ceiling work is being done, said Fredrick "Rick" Piccolo, president and chief executive officer of the airport and its authority.
The timing and sole supplier, identified as part of a $370,641 change order in the project, didn't sit well with Vice Chairman Carlos Beruff, prompting a line of questioning from the Medallion Home builder about the item, which was added to the agenda right before Tuesday's meeting.
"My job as a policy maker is to make sure the taxpayers' dollars get spent properly," he said.
The authority voted 5-1 to table the vote for the change order and hold a yet-to-be scheduled special meeting to address the replacement. Secretary Jack Rynerson dissented.
The 7-year-old public address system uses analog technology, and one of its servers has failed and can't be replaced, Piccolo said. Paging stations and ambient noise microphones also aren't working, along with issues with amplifiers and other equipment. The request would install a new
digital system using fiber optic cables and only reusing certain basic parts to save money.
The item was part of an overall project bid, and individual components in a change order typically are not competitively bid again as an individual project. A bidding process could delay the repairs for months, Piccolo said.
The IED Systems GlobalCom Announcement Control System is the product preferred by SRQ airport staff, and it's also used at Tampa's and Fort Myers's airports. Altel Systems Group of Brandon would be the supplier.
Piccolo said he would research other companies, but the only other major manufacturer he knows is the one who made the obsolete equipment that the airport uses.
"There's not an off-the-shelf PA store where you can get this stuff," he said. The cost will be about the same regardless of the system, Piccolo said, but Beruff wanted proof.
Beruff said he wants to get competitive bids to make sure the airport has the best, most up-to-date technology at the best price. With the lone supplier presented to the board, he wasn't satisfied.
"That doesn't mean there isn't somebody else doing a good job for less money," Beruff said. "My perspective has been consistent for the five years I've been on this board: I don't like single source. I like competitive bidding."
Airport staff knew it would have to replace the system but didn't know to what extent until time came to remove and replace ceiling tiles and other equipment, Piccolo said.
"We have this critical path of scheduling," he said, later noting that the work tries to minimize disruptions to passengers. "This is meant to keep that moving forward."
If not replaced now, the airport renovation will be complete, and the airport will have a failing system it has to go back and repair.
"We're going to have to undo work that we're paying for today to have it replaced," he said.
Beruff said the contractor will find a way to complete the job and the timing shouldn't be that much different, and showed a rare dissent against Piccolo's advice.
"Mr. Piccolo, I have gone along with almost everything you ever wanted me to do because I think you do a good job," Beruff said. "But in this case, it's not 20 grand. It's $350,000, OK folks?"
Regardless, the airport authority might not have to pay for the majority of the system cost. Piccolo told the authority the system is eligible for reimbursement funds from the FAA and Florida Department of Transportation.
Board member Henry Rodriguez said he is willing to reverse the decision to wait if the issue becomes problematic for the airport, but deferred to Beruff's contractor expertise until then.
In other moves:
The authority unanimously approved a $361,150 bid by Gator Grading and Paving to construct a 1,200-linear-foot east access road that would provide internal access for a 54-acre business park off of 15th Street East.
The authority unanimously approved an updated $1.5 million airline service incentive agreement that outlines requirements for new or added airline service needed to be awarded marketing funds by the airport.
The board selected Peter Wish, Ph.D., to be the board's chairman, Carlos Beruff to be vice chairman and Jack Rynerson to be secretary. The two-county board alternates turns taking each office.
Charles Schelle, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095. Follow him on Twitter @ImYourChuck.
This story was originally published November 18, 2014 at 11:00 PM with the headline "Failing public address system replacement causes mixed signals for SRQ airport board ."