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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-14-2025 Fairhope Airport Authority Meeting MinutesMinutes of Fairhope Airport Authority January 14, 2025 The Fairhope Airport Authority met January 14, 2025 at 5:00PM in the City of Fairhope Council Chambers at 161 N Section Street. Present: Don Ward, Chairman, Pel Henry, Will Bruce, and Len Strickland. Jack Burrell, Amy Pearson, and Chip Groner were absent. Also present was Josh Myrick, Attorney and Dave Friedel, Airport Manager. Cynthia A Boothe took the Minutes. The Minutes of the December 10, 2024 regular meeting were considered and approved with a motion by Pel Henry, second by Will Bruce and unanimously passed. Airport Manager's Report: Dave Friedel reported that the traffic count for December, 2024 was 5,256. Dave stated that he had gotten a quote for the knox box/siren system emergency gate access install. He said it would be $2,600.00. He also stated that if the project is done at the same time as the fence move that it would be a little cheaper. After a group discussion, it was decided that the fence would be moved at a later date. Pel Henry made a motion to approve the knox box/siren system emergency gate access installation for $2,600.00, second by Len Strickland and unanimously passed. Dave stated that he is still waiting on a quote for the AWOS radio but should hear something soon. Dave stated he has a quote from Perry Brothers to re-line the fuel tanks, but he is still waiting on the quote from Rebel. Dave reported that he and Pam are forming subcommittees for the upcoming Air Race Classic event that will be held here in June,2025. Will Bruce is helping to get volunteers from the Advisory Board. Dave is also needing to make arrangements for using the Civic Center for the event and would like the Authority to allow him to sign the necessary documents for the use of the Civic Center. A motion was made by Pel Henry to allow Dave to sign the necessary paperwork for the use of the Civic Center, second by Len Strickland and unanimously passed. Flightline First Report: Ethan McDonald gave everyone a draft of the Flightline First Monthly Newsletter that will be going out every month . Ethan stated that Aspire Aviation was at the meeting and has applied for a SASO permit and a sub -lease which Josh has reviewed . Ethan stated that for the month of December, 2024 that 4,400 gallons of AV- Gas was sold for $6.99 a gallon, and 22,000 gallons of Jet-A was sold for $6.75 per gallon. Ethan stated that the Eastern Shore Chamber is bringing in some 10th grade STEM students this Thursday for a tour of the Airport. Ethan reported that the fuel farm AV-gas pump went out last week. The motor was replaced but the problem was not fixed, so Rebel is sending over one more part and if that does not work, they will be over to fix it. Engineer's Report: Jordan reported that she and Dave met with Erik Cortinas, Building Official, on the AWOS site and he wants to make sure that there are no wetlands before a decision is made about what can be done to clear the area surrounding the AWOS. A new Wetland delineation may need to be done, and a complete environmental assessment is being done for the new Industrial Park, but Don Ward stated that he does not think that assessment will cover the area around the AWOS . Jordan will check the RFQ and if the AWOS area is not included in the assessment, she will get back with Erik and see what the next steps will be. Jordan presented and went over a report of the upcoming projects for the Airport for this year showing the costs and reimbursements for each project . The projects included in the report are the project for Replacing the Taxiway Lights and Signs, East Ramp & Northwest Ramp Seal Coats, Rehab Runway 1/19 & Replace Runway Lights and Signs, and Land Reimbursement. Th i s was followed by a question -and-answer period. Treasurer's Report: No Report . Legal Report: Josh Myrick stated that he has a partial sublease request from Hangar 27 A, GOLO Adventures, to sublease a portion of their hangar to Mario Casciano . He stated that he does not have a sublease document from them, just the request and ask the Authority to approve the sublease pending his review of the actual document. A motion was made by Len Strickland to approve the sublease, pending Josh's review of the actual document, second by Pel Henry and unanimously passed. Advertising for Engineering Services : Josh stated that the Authority is required periodically to advertise for engineering services. The Authority is to solicit for engineering services and then enter into a master contract for about four years and then that engineering firm services the engineering projects for the Airport for those four years. Josh stated that he has prepared a notice to consultants similar to the one used the last time. He is presenting the notice and a resolution to publish that notice for a four-week period with proposals due within 30 days after the last advertisement . A motion was made by Pel Henry to approve the notice and the resolution to publish the notice, second by Len Strickland and unanimously passed. Josh stated that Flightline First is proposing a sublease to Aspire Aviation for a Flight School at the Airport. He has a resolution to approve the sublease and the Commercial Operators Permit for Aspire Aviation. A motion was made by Len Strickland to approve the sublease, and the Commerci al Operators Permit, second by Pel Henry and unanimously passed . Don Ward stated that there has been a charter service run by Clear Sky out of the ROI hangar which requires a SASO permit and a 2% percent monthly surcharge which he discussed with officials of ROI. Josh stated that he has had discussions with Mr Browning, one of the attorneys for ROI, and Mr Browning sent an email stating that Clear Sky will pay the 2% surcharge each month and get the SASO permit but wants it to be effective from January 1, 2025. Josh wanted to bring this up to the Authority for discussion since it does not include any retroactive fees. After a group discussion, it was agreed that Josh will inform Mr. Browning that Clear Sky will need to pay all fees due and not just from January 1, 2025. Josh stated that there were discussions about a year ago, making sure that the lease rates for new ground leases should be the same rate as the increased lease rates of current tenants. The rates increase by 2 ½ percent every 5 years. This would increase the rates to thirty-one cents per square foot. This is designed to keep pace with the escalation in the current leases. Pel Henry made a motion to increase the 30-& 40-year leases to meet the escalation clauses in the current leases, second by Len Strickland and unanimously passed. Board Discussion/Approval Requests: No Report. Other Business: Don Ward stated that Kathy, who does the bookkeeping for the Authority, has had her workload greatly increased, especially with the transition away from Continental and would like an increase in her fee from $600.00 to $900.00 per month. Pel stated that Kathy does a lot more than just bookwork for the Authority and certainly deserves the increase. A motion was made by Len Strickland to increase Kathy's fee to $900.00 per month, second by Will Bruce and unanimously passed. Comments from the Advisory Council Members: No Report. Comments from the General Public: Cory Martin stated that the Airport is going in the right direction and appreciates the work that the Authority is doing. A motion was made by Pel Henry to adjourn the meeting, second by Len Strickland and unanimously passed. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourne Don Ward, Chairman ~a BJ~ S~ ittedby Cynthia A Boothe