HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-13-1993 Regular Meeting59
The Airport Board of the City of Fairhope met Monday, Deceml._.• 13, 1993
at 8:00 AM at the City Administration Building, 161 N. Section Street.
Present: Chairman Sue Mason; members Andy Huggins, Robert
Coiling, Khim Vera, Jeanette Puckett, Bill Payne
Betty Rivenbark, Secretary and Tut Wynne, City
Attorney
The minutes of the November 8 and November 22 meeting were approved
as presented and a financial statement was given.
Sue mentioned that we had gotten a letter from the FAA saying that
we were due to be funded on our project for asphalt for the ramp
and road. She said we have money in the bank for our share and
the state has money for their share, that we are in good shape.
At this time the board addressed the problems we are having with
our current FBO, Joe Clark. Mr. Clark was present to discuss
with the board the problems he is having.
Ms. Mason asked Mr. Clark if he was aware of the commitments he
had made and the terms of the lease. His response was yes. He
said he is not coming to the board with any excuses, the economy
aviationwise he cannot help. He said last year he spent at least
$250,000 at the Fairhope airport and probably will spend quarter
of million there this year. He said now he has his hangars
filled with aircraft, everything rented out and he has a flow of
traffic/maintenance and got some work from the navy. His problem
is as shown by prior communications and meeting minutes is that
he is not meeting our monthly debt at the airport nor paying his
minimum rent. He said he understands we have a business to run
and said to tell him what we want him to do. Ms. Mason said she
would like to use his most recent letter as a starting point, in
which he said he can only begin to pay $2,000 starting in January
and asking for relief from a portion of his arrears. Sue responded
that legally the city cannot forget debts that have accrued. Joe
said he needs some relief, let him catch these up. Sue said we have
given him time as he requested and it has only gotten worse.
Tut asked if we all agree on the amount of the arrears and understand
them. Sue responded that if he paid today he would need to pay $33,000
and by 12/22 it will be $67,000 and the January deferred rent would be
$90,000. The status of the Bay Minette facility was discussed and how
the city of Bay Minette had reneged on buying the facility from him.
It was asked if he wished to have the city of Bay Minette turn his
money over to us if they ever pay and he said he wished to keep the
Bay Minette issue free of any involvement with the Fairhope facility.
Joe said if he had not been trying he would be embarassed, but he is not.
Sue said we have discussed and discussed, that we have given all that
we can but we must meet our monthly debt and need to get caught up
to date, might have to re -negotiate the lease, if we get lesser rent
we will give him lesser footage. Joe said he is right now at a starting
point. Sue asked him when he could pay re nt 8 arrears and he said
he did not know. The board discussed what happened at Bay Minette
and what he proposes to do to try and get his money and how much
he hopes to get. It was suggested at this point that possibly Tut
might want to talk to Tom McAlpin, Mr. Clark's attorney, Mr. Clark
said that would be fine and further he gave the name of Jim Hamilton
as a real estate contact person. Andy asked him if he wasn't getting
more money in than the $2000 he proposes to pay each month and
he said that he has overhead to pay. At this time Tut asked if
would leave for about 15 minutes to give the board time to discuss
this further and then come back and talk with them, he did willingly.
He said he would do whatever we would like him to do. When Mr.
Clark had left Tut asked if $2,000 was reasonable to get, what are
other airports getting and where we got figures. Also, could we
get anybody else to run the airport, is there other interest out there.
Sue explained that we needed to get $5400 a month and that the figures
were arrived at by the square footage rented to him. Truthfully, we
have no idea what his income is, just what getting from T-hangars.
The idea of using the office space in the old Rohr building was discussed.
Tut asked about the right to look at the books, get a CPA and see if
he is paying what he can. All agreed it was a good idea. Tut said
possibly get him to give us a promissory note on the equipment, to
show his good faith. Further discussion led to a motion by Robert
Colling to make an audit of his books and see where he stands and
have Tut talk to his attorney and real estate person. Andy 2nd and
motion was carried unanimously. Sue said we have an obligation to
look at the city's strongest position, we need to look at the books
and agree with what he says he can pay. In the meantime we can
check other airports and see if they are having same problems and what
charging. Joe came back in and Tut informed him what the board would
like to do, get a CPA and look at the books for the past 2 years
for purpose of reporting back to the airport board & city council and
come back in 30 days. Joe responded he would welcome that, he still
feels he can make it go. Tut told him that he needed to contact his
attorney and CPA to give permission for us to do this. He said he
would. Sue said the bottom line most probably would be we had to
renegotiate the lease and take it back to the city council. Joe said
he does not want to relinquish the airport but if it is best for the city
he will leave. The board to meet again in 30 days.(regular meeting time)
There being no further'business, meeting was duly adjourned.