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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-20-2016 Regular MeetingMinutes of Fairhope Airport Authority September 20, 2016 The Fairhope Airport Authority met September 20, 2016 at 4:30PM in the Delchamps Suite Room 1, in the Civic Center at 161 N Section Street. Present: Joe McEnerney, Chairman, Jack Burrell, Pam Caudill and Tom Scheck. Absent was Vince Boothe, Chip Groner and Ray Hix. Also present was Josh Myrick, attorney. Cynthia A Boothe took the minutes. The minutes of the September 7, 2016 Special Meeting were considered and approved on a motion by Pam Caudill, second by Jack Burrell and unanimously passed. Update on the Airport Authority's website and marketing brochure: Pam Caudill stated that the marketing brochure was ready in time for Joe McEnerney and Jack Burrell to take and distribute at the conference in San Antonio. She also stated that after that the Airport's website should be live by the end of the September. Report of the Authority's Selection Committee to nominate an officer slate for 2016-2017: Tom Scheck stated that Chip Groner had visited with all the Airport Authority officers and they all agreed to serve another term. The recommended officer slate is: Joe McEnerney- Chairman; Pam Caudill - Vice Chairman; and Ray Hix - Secretary / Treasurer. The slate will be voted on at the Authority's meeting on October 18, 2016. Availability of 36 acres of land north of the Airport for purchase: Joe McEnerney stated that he was approached by the owner/realtor of 36 acres of land just north of the Airport to see if the Airport Authority was interested in purchasing the property. After a group discussion it was decided that the Authority was not interested in the purchase at this time. Report on the Lancair Owners and Builders Organization (LOBO) and Continental Motors Services nationwide fly -in: Bill Stromberg stated that LOBO and Continental Motors Services are hosting a fly -in and educational event at the Airport on the weekend of September 27th. The event will focus on maintenance and safety on Lancair built aircraft. Bill said there should be about 50 planes and 100 people attending and invited all the Authority Board members to attend. Review and approval of the Request for Proposals to refinance the Airport Authority's $7,445,629.00 existing debt: Joe McEnerney gave a history df the Airport Authority's debt and then said the goal of the refinancing is to reduce the annual principal payment and lower (and fix) the interest rate on the debt. The Request for Proposal will be sent out to nine banks with a return date of October 28, 2016 by 1:OOPM. After a group discussion a motion was made by Pam Caudill, second by Tom Scheck and unanimously carried. Discussion on the development of the west side of the Airport: Joe McEnerney and Pam Caudill stated that over the last seven years the Airport Authority has actively tried to develop and / or sell the property on the west side of the Airport. To this end, the Authority has had 75 acres of the west side property designated as an Alabama Advantage Site, established The Academy as a way to train workers for aviation related jobs, developed a master plan for a west side business park, developed a website and marketing plan for the Airport, sold 10 acres to Hy -Grade, and created a wetlands mitigation bank that included 5 acres of unusable land. As a follow-up, Victor Teumer (with Hy -Grade Value) said his company is interested in developing a road on the west side using an existing easement and extending it through the back of the property that Hy -Grade Valve owns. Joe McEnerney said that he would contact Mr Teumer and pursue the opportunity. Treasurer's report: In Ray Hix's absence Joe McEnerney stated that the finances are in good shape and the Authority has the funds to pay the matching portion for the 2016 AIP grant. Other Business: Jack Burrell gave a brief summary of the NASAO convention that he and Joe McEnerney attended in San Antonio, Texas. They attended workshops and worked the trade show to help spread the word about Fairhope and the airport as that in 2017 the NASAO convention will be held in Fairhope. A local resident expressed concern about continuing problems with noise from low flying aircraft. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 5:50PM.