Posted on Thu, Jul. 13, 2006

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Terminal plan debate persists

Council wrangles over giving more funds for proposal

By Travis Tritten

The Sun News

Horry County Council will decide Tuesday whether to pay another $6.2 million to get a final price tag for a new terminal at Myrtle Beach International Airport.

Council members wrangled for hours Wednesday over spending the money, possibly the biggest hurdle the project has faced, and will take up the debate again Monday.

The added cost could lead to a guaranteed price by January and a new terminal could be open for business in March 2009.

However, the $6.2 million could also produce terminal designs too expensive for the county to build.

County Council will never know unless it pumps more money into the project, despite numerous delays and increasing costs.

"If we fund another $6.25 million, how do we know you are not going to come back in two months with a $275 [million terminal plan]?" Councilman Harold Worley asked the project manager Skanska USA.

The most recent estimate puts the terminal at $228 million.

Skanska has said it is trying to remain within that price range.

"We stand behind the numbers we've provided and we don't go back to the well unless something changes," said James Gragson, senior project manager for Skanska.

Still, the county planned for a $200 million terminal and has only pulled together $218 million in sure funding so far. None of the funding is from local property taxes.

Council members combed estimated funding for the terminal Wednesday but couldn't find more than about $6 million in additional funds.

However, Councilman Howard Barnard said another $15 million will come through due to a promise by Gov. Mark Sanford.

"I believe if the council approves the airport, the governor will produce the money," he said after having a conversation with Sanford.

Convincing the majority of council members to count on that and approve the additional spending for design work on Tuesday will likely be difficult.

The County Council originally agreed to pay $12.3 million to get a guaranteed price tag from contractors, an agreement that requires contractors pick up nearly all additional costs.

Then the county parted ways with its former architecture team and delays ate up that money.

The result is the guaranteed price tag has been delayed for at least a year.

Councilman Mark Lazarus said Skanska should just pay to complete the design work itself and then add that cost into the final price offered to the county.

"Whatever [money] it takes to get to that point, they should build it into that guaranteed price," he said. "Don't force us to make the decision [to kill] a $200 million project for $6.2 million."