Olson expects VT MAE groundbreaking to be Sept. 8

City Administrator Eric Olson gave his monthly report to the Pensacola City Council at its agenda review on Aug. 8. He said the city would hold next month the groundbreaking for the hanger the City of Pensacola is building for VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering Inc. (VT MAE).

“According to Airport Director Dan Flynn, we’re planning on a September 8th groundbreaking,” said Olson, “or at least, tentatively that’s what we’re looking at.”

In September 2014, Mayor Ashton Hayward signed the city’s lease with VT MAE for a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility that will create at least 300 jobs. The aircraft hangar complex was to be constructed on nearly 19 acres at Pensacola International Airport, which VT MAE will lease for a 30 years.

Prior to the groundbreaking, Olson said the council might need to have a special meeting to approve four items.

“There are four items that we need to go over. Two of them are amendment to contracts. One of them is to approve the guaranteed maximum price and there’s one other item, an interim borrowing agreement,” said Olson.

The city administrator praised the efforts of the city’s inspections department, which reported had permitted over $128 million in construction. The department has already exceeded its budget revenue for the fiscal year.

“The building permits are way up already this year,” said Olson. “What that says is that inspection services is doing a very good job of keeping up with the very demanding workload and balancing the public safety concerns and also the needs of the developers who are doing the work.”

The city is still struggling to implement its Minority/Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) program. Olson said, “We are trying to get more businesses certified. The next workshop will be on September 22 in City Hall.”

The city administrator also wanted to clear up any confusion over whether pets are prohibited from public places, inside the city limits, that serve food and drink.

“The fact is that city businesses can allow dogs to be in the outside areas. Our code allows for that if specific requirements are met,” said Olson. “The ordinance states that city council has to approve these applications.”

The application fee is $100, and the council executive gets them on the agenda for council approval. Since that article was written we have received an application.

“We already do have two establishments. I believe it’s the Oar House and Tijuana Flats that already have permission,” said Olson.

He closed with a report on the annexation efforts around the Pensacola International Airport.

“Since 2004, the airport has acquired 102 parcels adjacent to the northwest quadrant of the airport,” said Olson. “We’ve identified 61 of those parcels for annexation. Right now what’s happening is we were trying to get a clean limit line so it would go right up on Tippen Avenue, but we have some businesses there that are not airport property.”

Staff is contacting property owners. He said, “Right now no action is required of city council but I can expect at some point by the end of the year we will be bringing an item forward to annex that property.”