BETHEL – Airport planners intent on improving Bethel’s facility hit a speed bump last week, rejecting the sole bid on an estimated $222,000 project. The $347,032 bid by Sargent Corp. of Stillwater was too pricey.

The project included repairing cracks on airfield pavement, installing a 12,000-gallon Jet-A fuel system, installing an electronic gate and access control system, and improving Hangar Access Road.

Following a nearly 60-minute executive session at Friday afternoon’s specially-convened meeting to discuss contractual negotiations, airport authority member Cathy Newell motioned for the board to reject the bid. Her motion also included revising the bid specifications for a lighted windsock, redesigning the jet fuel system as an alternate bid item, and running a new bid process with revised specs. It was approved by a 5-0 tally.

Bethel’s engineering consultant, Stantec Consulting Services Inc. of Portland, had recommended awarding the bid to Sargent.

“We’re shuffling the deck and dealing a new hand now,” town and airport manager Scott Cole said of the new bid specs, which are to improve the road and the gate, fix the runway, and light the windsock

By making the jet fuel system installation an alternate bid item, Cole said it would reduce project costs for the desired improvements by $150,000 to $200,000. Still, the authority believes the system is needed.

“Bethel is a remote location and, we’re finding that some aviators are coming in in small jets and need fuel. A Jet-A system would also help the Maine Forest Service and Maine Warden Service. Jet fuel would fully serve our aviation community, with the additional benefit of helping the two state services with their helicopters,” Cole said.

The airport’s runway is 75 feet wide by 3,818 feet long, meaning, it can handle up to a 12-passenger jet, but no F-16 or similar military jets, Cole said.

Regarding the proposed improvements, he added, “We want to continue to enhance another avenue into town. We frequently have charter planes and jets coming in. We’re finding that as the airport gets better, and the runway and hangars improve, home builders are making decisions to move here based on airport availability.”

Previous recent improvements included a $670,000 apron expansion and building relocation in 2005, and, in 2001, a $2.4-million project that widened the runway from 60 feet to 75 feet and lengthened it by 668 feet to 3,818 feet.

Cole said he expects the revised project to go out to bid within two weeks and be opened by May 25.