HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-20-2016 Regular MeetingMinutes of Fairhope Airport Authority
December 20, 2016
The Fairhope Airport Authority met December 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, Vince Boothe, Tom Scheck and
Chip Groner. Ray Hix was absent. Also present was Josh Myrick, attorney and Mayor Karin
Wilson. Cynthia A Boothe took the minutes.
The minutes of the November 15, 2016 meeting were considered and approved on a motion by
Pam Caudill, second by Jack Burrell and unanimously passed.
Joe McEnerney asked for a motion to add to the agenda a review of a proposed AT&T easement
at the Airport. A motion was made by Pam Caudill to make the addition to the agenda, second
by Tom Scheck and unanimously passed.
AT&T Easement: Josh Myrick stated that he has reviewed the easement application from AT&T
and that he suggested making the easement non-exclusive to AT&T. After a group discussion
and additional minor change suggested by Vince Boothe to make AT&T responsible for any
utility damage that may occur during installation it was decided to table the item until the
January 17, 2017 meeting to have these changes included in the easement.
Report on General Aviation Alliance of Alabama legislative outreach: Chip Groner stated that
he has participated in a meeting of the General Aviation Alliance of Alabama in Huntsville. The
purpose of the Alliance is to educate legislatures of the value of general aviation airports to the
state of Alabama and to aid in the promotion and funding of general aviation airports.
Report and update on the status of the two hangars under construction: Joe McEnerney
stated that the Mid -Bay Air hangar is about 10% completed and that the Cedar Creek hangar
will be completed by April, 2017.
Report on the noise issues in the Fairhope air space: Chip Groner stated that he and Joe
McEnerney met with officials at the Coast Guard Station in Mobile where they do basic pilot
training as well as search and rescue training. He stated that the meeting was very informative
and that the Coast Guard was very receptive to hearing about the noise problems the City has
been experiencing. Chip reported that the Coast Guard mostly does night training in the Point
Clear area but returns to the Coast Guard Station by 10:OOPM in the winter and by 12:00
midnight in the summer months. Chip also stated that he and Joe McEnerney met with the
Mayor Wilson and officials from NAS Whiting Field and NAS Pensacola for a briefing on their
missions and how it affected the Fairhope airspace. Joe McEnerney stated that Randy Roy of
NAS Pensacola stated that the Navy has significantly curtailed the use of the Fairhope Airport
for "touch and go" training due to the change in the required flight pattern.
Update on the status of East Side construction project: Joe McEnerney stated that about 20%
of the East Side construction project is completed. Vince Boothe presented a tentative plot
plan that he and Chip Groner drew as a possible plan for positioning of hangars on the east
side. There was also discussion about fuel farm placement. Vince also stated that Volkert
would have to look at the plan for a final layout before anything can be voted on.
Discussion of the development of the west side of the Airport: Joe McEnerney stated that he
has been talking to prospective developers about helping to develop a plan for the west side to
makes the west side more marketable.
Update on the proposal to refinance the Airport Authority's $7,445,629 in existing debt: Joe
McEnerney stated that he received four refinancing proposals from area banks and he believes
that the Authority can get a fixed interest rate on the debt that is beneficial to the Authority.
The discussion on the individual refinancing proposal was deferred because of the controversy
and interconnectedness with Mayor Wilson's request to transfer the McGowan property back
to the City of Fairhope
Review and discussion of Mayor Wilson's request for the Authority to transfer the "new
property" (i.e. McGowan property) back to the City of Fairhope: Joe McEnerney showed an
aerial map of the airport property and explained to all attending the different areas of current,
ongoing and future development. Vince Boothe stated that after deducting the areas of
planned or ongoing development that would only leave about 130 acres that are undeveloped
or have no development plans at this time. Mayor Wilson stated that the City of Fairhope
wants to have a larger role in the development of the airport property and asked that the
property be transferred into the City's name. Jack Burrell stated that by transferring the
property back to the City's name it would hinder the Airport's ability to be more self-reliant in
the future and more dependent on the City for funding.
Treasurer's Report and review of large maintenance expenses in November: Joe McEnerney
stated in Ray Hix's absence that the finances are in good order with only regular maintenance
items listed.
Public Comments: An attorney (Hank Caddell) representing some of the citizens who have been
experiencing aircraft noise stated that he is looking into their concerns and will keep the Airport
Authority informed as to his findings.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 5:35PM.
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