Construction of a T-hangar at the Vicksburg Municipal Airport could cost nearly $43,000 more than anticipated due to a faulty site survey, Curt Follmer, manager of the city facility, told the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen Wednesday.

“When we actually got to the construction we discovered a pipe that was not included,” said Follmer. “The project will be stalled unless this change order is approved.”

“In that case, we don’t have a choice,” responded Mayor Paul Winfield. “If we stall the project it’s just going to cost us more money.”

The change order for $42,954 — which will pay for the relocation of an 18-inch pipe and various materials — was approved by Winfield and North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield. South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman was absent.

The 10-stall T-hangar was to cost roughly $300,000, half of which is to be paid for via a share of the city’s $1.3 million Community Development Block Grant awarded following Hurricane Katrina. About $1 million of the grant is going toward the construction of a new fire station at the airport. The in-house renovation of the airport’s 60-year-old terminal is to count as an in-kind grant match. All three projects are under way at the airport on U.S. 61 South.

Follmer said it is possible the grant can be expanded to include covering half of the change order cost for the T-hangar. He said he’s also discussing the faulty survey with the company that provided it, Jackson-based Maptech Inc., in hopes of recovering some of the cost.

“It’s very likely the grant will provide half of these funds,” he said, noting that would reduce the city’s cost to about $21,500. “The way it looks to me now is, worst case scenario, the city would be obligated for another $21,000 and change. Best case, obviously, is the survey company steps up to the plate.”

Follmer said the concrete slab for the T-hangar has been poured, and the steel walls were being erected on Wednesday.

“I don’t want to stall this project for something that is going to have to be dealt with later,” reiterated Winfield. “We’ll deal with the other aspects of it at a later time. But I do want to get a rep from Maptech over here or have our attorney have a discussion with them because they’re going to have some liability on this.”

T-hangars are so-named because individual stalls are the shape of a “T” to match the shape of smaller private and corporate aircraft and allow a limited footprint. When completed, the city plans to rent the stalls to aircraft owners who need a place to keep their planes out of the weather. T-hangars were part of the initial construction at Vicksburg Tallulah Regional Airport at Mound, of which  the city is one-fourth owner.

Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com