HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-09-2024 Fairhope Airport Authority MinutesMinutes of the Fairhope Airport Authority
January 9, 2024
The Fairhope Airport Author ity met January 9, 2024 at 5:00PM in the City Hall
Council Chambers at 161 N Section Street.
Present: Pel Henry, Chairman, Len Strickland, Will Bruce, Chip Groner, Jack Burrell
and Don Wa rd. Amy Pearson was absent. Also present was Josh Myrick, Attorney
and Dave Friedel, Airport Manager. Cynthia A Boothe took the Minutes.
Before the meeting started, Pel Henry welcomed Len Strickland to the Airport
Authority and asked him to say a few words. Len stated that he was looking
forward to serving on the Authority and that there are many interesting and
exciting things going on at the Airport. He said he had been flying for about 28 or
29 years and has had an aircraft out at the Airport all that time.
The Minutes of the December 12, 2023 regular meeting were considered and
approved with a motion by Will Bruce, second by Jack Burrell and unanimously
passed.
Continental Aerospace Report: No Report.
Airport Manager's Operations Report: Dave stated that he had been working
with a local website developer to update the Airport website to make it easier to
navigate and add more information for users. They are going to make a
demonstration website where Dave and any Authority Members can look at it and
see if any other changes need to be made before it goes live.
Dave reported that he had received a depredation permit for white tail deer from
Alabama Wildlife as there have been reports of seeing the deer out on the Airport
property and runway. Pel Henry, Kyle Klenner, and Dave are all three listed on the
permit to take care of the problem should it become necessary.
Dave reported that one of the third row T-Hangers was having trouble with water
getting in so a gutter will be installed on the north side of the hangar to divert the
water away. The repair should cost about $3,000.00.
Dave said at the terminal constr uction meeting last week that discussions were
held about the flower beds with Jamie Rollins of the City of Fairhope Horticulture
Department. Jamie said that when the building is about complete, that his
department would build some planter boxes like they have uptown and that the
Te rminal Building will be put on the rotation for seasonal flower changeouts.
Dave stated that the Civil Air Patrol is going to be performing JR ROTC
familiarization rides and Drone Ops on February 10th the same as they did in
September.
Dave reported that the traffic count for December was 4,786, which is lower than
usual but usually happens around the holidays.
Dave mentioned that the meeting for February is scheduled for the 13th , which is
Mardi Gras Day, but the Council Chambers would be available for the 20th . A
motion was made by Chip Groner to move the February 13th meeting to the 20th
of February, second by Don Ward and unanimously passed. Dave also mentioned
that the Council Chambers are not available for the regular meeting on November
the 12th but will check to see if they are available for November 19th.
Dave reported that Paula mentioned to him that the USDA will be out doing bait
spraying next month and wanted to make sure everyone was aware of it.
Will Bruce asked Dave if the Civil Air Patrol was still looking for space for sto rage
and meetings and Dave confirmed that they were still looking.
Engineer's Report: Jordan stated that everything is going great and right on
schedule with the Te rminal Building construction. The trusses will be delivered
tomorrow so they can be installed. The holidays and some weather events slowed
down things for a while, but they are back on schedule now.
The Runway project will officially not be funded this year but possibly in 2025.
The FAA said that the Airport can apply for an AIP grant of $150,000.00 for land
reimbursement, so Jordan will work on that application and have all the
information ready for next month.
A group discussion followed about possibly applying for other projects that were
less expensive and may be more obtainable. Jordan suggested that they discuss
everything with the FAA and ALDOT for advice before deciding what steps they
may want to take next.
Jordan presented an amendment to the design contract they submitted. She
stated that ALDOT reviews all rates and scopes of contracts that they submit and
after review of the design contract it resulted in a reduction of the fees of
$19,000.00. Don Ward made a motion to authorize the Chairman to execute the
amendment reducing the fees to Volkert for $19,000.00, second by Chip Groner
and unanimously passed.
Treasurer's Report: Amy Pearson was absent, but Pel Henry reported that he has
been working with Tr ustmark Bank and they are giving the Airport 4% interest on
375,000.00 in the Airport accounts and 4% on the funds in the grant account.
Legal Report: Josh Myrick reported that he had delivered the draft lease of the
North Hangar to Mr Pennington of Continental Aerospace. He has not gotten any
response yet but has given them until the end of January to make any comments
or requests for changes to the lease. Since he has not heard from them yet he
feels that the Authority does not need to move into executive session this
evening.
Board Discussion/Approval Requests: Coley Boone of Thames Batre Insurance
stated that she has talked to their underwriters and that the Airport can possibly
expect a 15% to 20% increase in costs this year on the property insurance. She
does anticipate some changes in deductibles. She does not expect a significant
increase in the General Liability, Pollution, or the Public Officials Liability. She will
have a proposal ready for the February meeting. There was also a group
discussion about possibly insuring the runway and taxiway lights once they are
replaced.
Don Ward stated that he has been working with the consultant who is working on
the first draft of the Minimum Standards and Rules and Regulations and expects
to receive the draft shortly. Once received, he will forward the draft to everyone
for their review and will then bring it to the February meeting for approval and a
request for an RFP so that the Authority can keep to the original timeline of
issuing an RFP by the end of February.
Other Business: Jack Burrell stated that the funding agreement between the City
of Fairhope and the Airport Authority is past due since December and needs to be
renewed for the annual appropriation. Josh Myrick stated that he thought it was
not due to expire until 2027 but will look at the bond transcript to be sure. Jack
stated that the City plans to keep the funding level for this year.
Jack also stated that he has been talking with Don Ward and the property on the
West Side that the Authority has been trying to sell would need to have about
$5,500,000.00 dollars of infrastructure work done on it to make it more
marketable so Don thinks it might be better for the Airport to have the City take
the property back. Jack will talk to the Authority more about the property at a
later time.
Comments from the Advisory Council Members: No report.
Comments from the General Public: Scott Peters stated that he saw a NOTAM
that the PAPI lights were not working correctly. _Dave Freidel stated that the PAPls
were fixed.
Adjournment: There being no further business, a motion was made by Don Ward
to adjourn, second by Jack Burrell and unanimously passed. The meeting was
adjourned at 5:56PM.
&�4� M(!pCl2:z!:&z. s6bm�byCynthia A Boothe