HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-10-2023 Fairhope Airport Authority Meeting MinutesMinutes of Fairhope Airport Authority
October 10, 2023
The Fairhope Airport Authority met October 10, 2023 at 5:00PM in the City Hall
Council Chambers at 161 N Section Street.
Present: Pel Henry, Chairman, Don Ward, Chip Groner, Don Lagarde, Will Bruce,
Jack Burrell, and Amy Pearson. Also present was Josh Myrick, Attorney. Cynthia A
Boothe took the Minutes.
The Minutes of the September 12, 2023 regular meeting were considered and
approved with a motion by Don Ward, second by Chi Groner and unanimously
passed.
Continental Aerospace Report: Paula Hembree was unable to attend so Dave
Friedel gave the Authority members her fuel report. For the month of September,
2023, AV Gas was 7,313 gallons and Jet A was 23,548 gallons. For September
2022, Av Gas was 10,188 gallons and Jet A was 24,169 gallons.
Airport Manager's Operations Report: Dave Friedel stated that the
groundbreaking for the new terminal building would be on October 16, 2023 at
10:00AM. He also stated that the fence line has been moved so the construction
area will be outside the fenced area.
Dave reported that the East Gate has been installed and finished but is having
alignment problems, so Baldwin Fencing is supposed to make adjustments this
after noon or tomorrow.
Dave stated that the AWOS had the windspeed sensor changed but that did not fix
it because the crossbar circuit board needs replacing which will cost $2,500.00.
Because the problems with the AWOS and the fence and possibly the south 1/3 of
the runway lights were all damaged by the same lightening event Dave suggested
that an insurance claim could be filed to help with expenses. Pel Henry agreed
and asked for a motion to file a claim. A motion was made by Jack Burrell to
authorize the Chairman and the Airport Manager handle filing an insurance claim
for all the damag es, second by Don Ward and unanimously passed.
Dave reported that the traffic count for the Airport for September 2023 was 5,751
operations compared to August 2023 count of 7,135. He said that the drop off is
normal for this time of year but should pick back up towards the holiday season.
Dave stated that the FAA & ALDOT will be meeting soon to discuss next year's
projects and that Jordan Stringfellow suggested that the Airport hold off on power
washing the runway until they see what direction the discussions go in as the
runway project may be put off until 2025 and the Airport may have to look into
repainting the runway instead of power washing.
Dave reported that the ACA meeting went very well, and they got a lot of good
feed back and information and met with ALDOT and the FAA. He said that next
week he will be going to the FAA Southeastern Conference in Atlanta and that
Volkert will be going also, and he is looking forward to it. On the 2l 5t through the
23 rd the Airport had Marine para-jumpers out at the Airport and were pleased
with the support the Airport gave them. Dave mentioned that he had met
Howard Hadley, a former board member and that Mr Hadley offered the Authority
a vintage propeller for display, and he picked it up today.
Engineer's Report: Luke Hicks reported that the Contractor is submitting for the
materials for the Terminal Building and that everything is on schedule.
Luke stated that Jordan had received an amendment to the proposal of the design
of the runway and she is still re viewing that and will send to Authority Members
once she has finished the review.
Luke stated that Jordan is also re viewing the ESA Phase II Environmental Stud y and
that he had talked to their Environmental Department who stated that the cost
would be about $25,000.00 to $30,000.00.
Luke reported that the preapplications for the Runway Project and the Terminal
Parking Lot were submitted and approved but it will probably be December before
they will know if the funds have been allocated for these projects.
Treasurer's Report: No Report.
Legal Report: Josh Myrick reported that there has been a good response for the
lease amendments that were sent out to the tenants to make the lease payments
all due on November 1st of each year.
Josh stated that he has a draft of an addendum to the proposed lease with Galo
Adventures for extending the taxiway from its current terminus to Lot P27 A
which states that GOLO Adventures will be responsible for the extension of the
Taxiway from its current terminus to Lot P27A according to FAA standards and that
the Airport Authority will then be responsible for the striping and maintenance of
the Taxiway extension according to FAA standards. A motion was made to accept
the addendum to the lease by Chip Groner, second by Don Ward and unanimo usly
passed.
Josh stated that he had an amendment to the Lease for Vince Boothe concerning
the new survey for his lot that had to do with the RDI Hangar causing a change to
be made to Vince's previous survey and to state that construction on this lot
would need to start no later than January 1, 2024. A motion was made by Don
Ward to accept the amendment, second by Will Bruce and unanimously passed.
Board Discussion/Approval Requests: Pel Henry stated that because the Airport
has been much busier this last year that the retainer of $1,800.00 for nine hours
work paid to the Airport Attorney is often abused and he spends more than nine
hours attending to Airport business. Pel suggested changing to $225.00 hourly
rate for his services. After a brief discussion of the Authority Members, a motion
was made by Don Lagarde to pay the $1,800.00 monthly retainer and $225.00 an
hour for more than nine hours with a cap of 20 hours, second by Don Ward and
unanimously passed.
Other Business: Pel stated that he would like the Authority Members to authorize
him to engage with Preston Bolt of Hand Arendall Harrison Sale to help complete
the paperwork required for the Airport Authority Loan for the Terminal Buildi ng.
After a brief discussion of the Authority Members a motion was made by Don
Ward to authorize Pel Henry, Chairman, to engage with Preston Bolt of Hand
Arendall Harrison Sale to help complete the necessary paperwork for the Air port
Authority Loan for the Terminal Building with any qualified Financial Institution,
second by Will Bruce and unanimously passed.
Pel Henry stated that Don Lagarde had sent out an email and Corey Martin, City
Councilman, stated that he had been talking to different individuals and officials
about the possibility of a Command Center at the Airport. A FEMA Grant was
applied for, and Corey wants the Authority to follow through with application to
see if the opportunity for a Command Center is possible for the Airport. Pel asked
Councilman Martin to send the Authority the information that has so that they
can review it.
Comments from the General Public: No Report.
Executive Session: Josh Myrick stated that the Authority would move to Exe cutive
Session for the purpose of discussion and consideration the Authority is willing to
take for a lease, which is allowed under the Open Meetings Act with an estimated
time for the Executive Session and that the meeting will likely adjourn after the
Executive Session. Chip Groner made a motion to adjourn to the Executive
Session for fifteen minu tes and to include Dave Freidel, second by Don Ward and
unanimously passed with a Roll Call Vote. The Authority moved to Executive
Session at 5:51PM.
Return from Executive Session: The Authority retu rned from the Executive
Session and reconvened at 6:18PM.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 6:19PM with a
motion by Jack Burrell, second by Don Lagarde and unanimously passed.
Submitted by Cynthia A Boo he