HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-13-2024 Fairhope Airport Authority Meeting MinutesMinutes of Fairhope Airport Authority
August13,2024
The Fairhope Airport Authority met August 13, 2024 at 5:00PM in the City Hall
Council Chambers at 161 N Section Street .
Present: Pel Henry, Chairman, Don Ward, Chip Groner, Jack Burrell, Will
Bruce, Amy Pearson, and Len Strickland. Also present was Josh Myrick,
Attorney, and Dave Friedel, Airport Manager. Cynthia A Boothe took the
Minutes.
The Minutes of the July 9, 2024 regular meeting were considered and approved
with a motion by Jack Burrell, second by Will Bruce and unanimously passed.
Other Business-Coastal Alabama Update: Mandy Bezeredi of Coastal
Alabama Community College who is also the Director of the Fairhope
Campus and the Airport Academy and Josh, the Dean of Workforce and
Economic Development updated the Authority Members about current
activities at the Airport Academy. Mandy stated that The Academy has always
offered welding, aviation, and electrical & instrumentation classes, but with
the opening of Baldwin Prep, the aviation classes will be moving there. Josh
stated that the Fame Program will now be offered at The Academy which is an
apprentice program run by sponsor businesses in the county to train students
in the skills needed to work in the different sponsor businesses.
Airport Manager's Report: Dave Freidel reported that the traffic count for
July, 2024 was 5,607, down from 6,504 in July, 2023.
Dave stated that David Shear was not able to come to the meeting but
reported to Dave that for the month of June, 2024, the fuel sales for Jet-A were
21,243 gallons and AV Gas was 7,463 gallons. For the month of July, 2024,
fuel sales for Jet-A were 20,266 gallons and AV Gas was 9,694 gallons.
Dave reported that there was a Terminal walk-through on August 8th and the
building looks really good and the contractor is finishing up the punch list and
the building utilities are being transferred to the Authority until Flightline takes
over.
Dave reported that the ALDOT inspection was performed on July 19th with
Jason and Caleb and Dave received the report on August 8th . There were no
major issues or obstructions noted. There was a note about lighting outages,
but a note was attached saying that the project for replacement is being sped
up .
Dave said that he has not heard back from the other tank company about his
second request for a quote on the fuel tank refurbishment.
Dave reported that he and Pam Caudill went on WABF -1480 for an interview
about the upcoming Air Race Classic-to help get the word out. Will Bruce has
joined their meetings and is helping to rally support . Dave also reported that
they have an offer from Hampton Inn for rooms.
Dave spoke with Carol Voss regarding the 99s painting the compass rose and
the 99s will supply the labor and the Authority will provide the survey, paint
and any other supplies needed.
Dave said that for the October T-Hangar transition he will send a prorated bill
as the transition will be in the middle of the month.
The City of Fairhope Horticulture Department will be bringing out flower boxes
and trash receptacles for the new Terminal Building and will do some tree
trimming along the road.
The September Authority meeting will be held in the Delchamps room due to
work being done in the Council Chambers . Dave stated that the Authority may
want to move the future meetings to the FBO Conference Room once
Flightline First is settled .
Pe l Henry introduced Pierre Villere and Ethan McDonald of Flightline First, the
company who will be the FBO for the new Terminal Building. Pierre Villere
st ated that he was one of the owners of Flightline First and that they are
excited and grateful for the opportunity to be selected as the FBO for the
Fa i rhope Airport and looks forward to a long and prosperous relationship with
the Fairhope Airport . He feels there is a great opportunity for growth, and they
have great ideas they look forward to implementing and they look forward to
all the local activities coming up at the Airport.
Continental Aerospace Report: No Report.
Engineer's Report: Jordan Stringfellow stated that the Terminal Building
project is just about complete, and they are in the process of closing the
project out.
Jordan reported that the FAA will be awarding the Authority the land
reimbursement grant and once the Mayor has signed the grant agreement the
funds will be released. The FAA portion of the grant is $150,000.00 and the
ALDOT portion is $8,000.00.
Jordan went over the Capital Improvement Plan for 2025-2029 especially the
projects that are scheduled for 2025. After a group discussion, a motion was
made by Don Ward to authorize Volkert to make preapplications for the 2025
projects which are the Runway Rehabilitation Project, Runway Lighting
System Project, and the ALDOT Pavement Maintenance Projects for the East
Terminal Ramp and Northwest Apron . A second was made by Len Strickland
and it was unanimously passed.
Treasurer's Report: Amy Pearson went over the Airport Authority Cash Flow
Overview for 2024-2029 followed by a group discussion.
Legal Report: No Report.
Board Discussion/Approval Requests: Don Ward stated that the Authority
had started the process last fall for a lease agreement for a FBO operator at
the New Terminal Building and after months of rewriting the Minimum
Standards and the Rules and Regulations for the Airport and drafting and
sending out an RFQ for applications and interviewing candidates he would
now like to enter a motion to approve the resolution to accept and approve the
lease with Flightline First, and authorize the Chairman to sign the lease after
the Authority approves it. A second was made by Len Strickland and it was
unanimously passed.
Pel Henry stated that it is time to appoint a nominating committee to
recommend a slate of officers for 2025. Chip Groner made a motion to
appoint Will Bruce, Pel Henry and himself to the nominating committee,
second by Jack Burrell and unanimously passed.
Comments From Advisory Council Members: Russ Gilgore stated that the
Airport is a prime economic developer for the City of Fairhope and he
supports the City of Fairhope in giving the Airport support to develop into what
it should be and he thinks that the Authority is doing a great job and has great
Authority Members working hard on the projects for the Airport. He also
stated that the Aviation Council Conference is going to be in Auburn on
September 22 nd , 23 rd , & 24th . He invited all of the Airport Authority Members
who can to attend the Conference as it is a great time to meet with FAA
officials, the ADO Office, the Regional Office from Atlanta, and other aviation
officials to make them aware of the needs of the Fairhope Airport. As the
Fairhope Airport Authority is a member of the Aviation Council and Chip
Groner is on the Aviation Council Board, they have a lobbying firm who is there
to work with the Alabama State Legislature to secure more money for airports
in the State of Alabama.
Comments from General Public: No Report.
Adjournment: Chip Groner made a motion to adjourn, second by Don Ward
and unanimously passed.
There being no further business, the meeting w journef,6:15PM.
Pel Henry, Chairman
Submitted by Cynthia A Boothe