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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-12-2024 Fairhope Airport Authority Meeting MinutesMinutes of the Fairhope Airport Authority March 12, 2024 The Fairhope Airport Authority met March 12, 2024 at 5:00PM in the City Hall Council Chambers at 161 N Section Street. Present: Pel Henry, Chairman, Don Ward, Len Strickland, Will Bruce, Chip Groner, and Amy Pearson. Jack Burrell was absent. Also present was Josh Myrick, Attorney, and Dave Friedel, Airport Manager. Cynthia A Boothe took the Minutes. The Minutes of the February 27, 2024 regular Meeting were considered and approved with a motion by Don Ward, second by Chip Groner and unanimously passed. Airport Manager's Report: Dave Friedel, Airport Manager, stated that since the Minimum Standards and Rules and Regulations had been distributed to the Authority Members, he has been gathering the comments made and will be looking at all the issues and concerns raised. The runway cleaning has been done and the striping is cleaner but definitely faded, so he asked if Jordan Stringfellow of Volkert Engineering needs to try to get a paint project funded, or if they should try to wait to see if it would help to get the Authority's case for the Runway Project pushed further along. Chip Groner stated that Jordan had said that there is a minimum striping project that could be done, if approved, to help the Authority until the Runway Project is approved. Dave reported that he recently checked the lights on the air field at night and that between eighty and ninety lights are out across the air field. The maj or cause for the lights going out seems to be ants. Kyle was able to get about twenty of them running again but it would take about $15,000.00 to get the rest of them repaired. The west side taxiway has the worst problem with lights going out. Dave and Kyle are looking at different lighting fixtures that are more ant proof, and Kyle is spraying for the ants. Dave reported they are working on the quote for the new gate next to the terminal, and he will be updating the code on the gate on the east side. Dave stated that the traffic count for February was 5,346. Continental Aerospace Report: Paula Hembree reported that Continental has been busy and that for February 2024, 19,000 gallons of Jet-A was sold compared to 20,263 gallons in February 2023 and that 7,631 gallons of AV gas was sold compared to 6,793 gallons in February 2023. Treasurer's Report: Amy Pearson presented and went over the February 2024 Profit & Loss Budget Performance. Engineer's Report: Jordan stated that she has not completed the updated East Terminal Area Plan (update of P-18 Layout) but will have it for the meeting in April. Dave Friedel asked Jordan about the possible runway painting and the lights that need repairing and she suggested talking to Derrick at the FAA and Taylor at ALDOT to see how this should be handled and whether to do the painting and light repairs or wait for the Runway and Lighting Projects to be approved. She also stated that they could possibly use AIG money to fix the lights. Pel Henry asked for a motion to approve the FY24 AIP Grant Application (Land Reimbursement) for $150,000.00. A motion was made by Don Ward to approve the FY24 Grant Application, second by Len Strickland and unani mously passed. Jordan stated that she will get the application submitted. Legal Report: Josh Myrick stated that the only outstanding item left on the North Hangar Lease with Continental is the insurance. The lease states that the Authority will carry the insurance and bill Continental for the premium, but Continental states that they want to carry the insurance as they can get the same amount of insurance for a less expensive premium. Josh has referred the matter to Coley Boone at Thames-Batre, who is our insurance agent of record, for review and if she confirms that the coverage is sufficient then they may revisit the issue with Continental. Otherwise, it will stay the way it is stated in the lease. Board Discussion/Approval Requests: Don Ward stated that the consultant is working on the initial draft of the RFP for the FBO and should have it to him by next week. He said that there will probably be adjustments that will have to be made to the draft once it is reviewed, but when the RFP is completed it may be necessary to call a special meeting before the next regular meeting to approve the RFP so it can be posted. It is important to get the RFP out as soon as possible to allow time for responses, reviews, and to get the contract in place. Comments from the Advisory Council Members: No report. Comments from the General Public: Zac McNeil stated that he would be flying tomorrow and would help with getting pictures of the runway for Jordan and wanted to thank Dave for his good works out at the Airport. He wants to recommend that when the RFP is issued that it should mention that the runway would be closed down for a period of time when the Runway Project is started. Zac also wanted to extend an invitation to all the Authority Members to tour the new ROI Hangar and he wants to meet with Pel, Dave and Jordan about their new ROI fuel farm. Move to Executive Session: Pel stated that an Executive Session is not needed this even ing. Adjou rnment: Chip Groner made a motion to adjourn, sec and unanimously passed. The meeting adjou ne at 5:3 M.