Security, lighting upgrades planned for Hagerstown Regional Airport

Two deals were approved Tuesday to upgrade security and airport bridge lighting at Hagerstown Regional Airport, though Washington County Commissioner John Barr said the county could have gotten a better deal on one.

Barr cast the sole dissenting vote in awarding a contract for airport bridge lighting to Hawkeye Construction LLC, of Rosedale, Md., for its low bid of $269,500. That cost could be reduced to $213,700 with an estimated rebate.

Barr didn't explain his vote during the meeting, but talked about it in a phone interview.

Barr said the light mechanisms under the runway bridges could have been retrofitted with new LED lights for not much more than $59,500. That was the amount he estimated the rebate would be, based on $250 for each of the 238 fixtures. He said the rebate was a power-company stipend for energy savings per light fixture.

The estimated rebate, based on county documents, would be $55,800.

The light fixtures under the runway bridges, which cross U.S. 11, are only 11 or 12 years old and were top of the line when they were installed, Barr said. So they should be able to be retrofitted, said Barr, the commissioners' liaison to the Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Commission.

Barr, owner and president of Ellsworth Electric, said his company did not bid on the project.

The lighting work is expected to begin in mid-October and be done by mid-January.

The commissioners also authorized the purchase and installation of perimeter security cameras for an area that has been a blind spot.

The county is using a contract awarded by Carroll County, Md., government with Skyline Technology Solutions of Glen Burnie, Md., to get unit prices totaling $130,000, according to a county document.

The county recently was awarded a $97,500 grant from the Maryland Aviation Administration for the work. The county's portion of the cost will be $32,500.

Airport Director Phil Ridenour has said he expects the security project to take less than two months if the weather cooperates.