HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-08-2025 Fairhope Airport Authority Meeting MinutesMi nutes of Fairhope Airport Authority
July 8, 2025
The Fairhope Airport Authority met July 8, 2025 at 5:00PM in the City of
Fairhope Council Chambers at 161 N Section Street.
Present: Don Ward, Chairman, Ronnie Holyfield, Pel Henry, and Len
Strickland. Will Bruce, Susana Freeman, and Jack Burrell were absent.
Also Present was Dave Friedel, Airport Manager. Cynthia A Boothe took the
Minutes.
Before the agenda items, Don Ward recognized the newest Authority Member,
Ronnie Holyfield and welcomed him to the Airport Authority.
The Minutes of the June 10, 2025 Regular Meeting were considered and
approved with a motion by Pel Henry, second by Len Strickland and
unanimously passed.
Airport Manager's Report: Dave Friedel reported that the traffic count for
June was 7,690, up from June, 2024, which was 6,281.
Dave stated that although the weather interfered with the planned la unch, the
Air Race Classic was still a great event. He heard great feedback from the
pilots regarding the event and their visit to Fairhope. Many said they would be
planning trips back here.
The total budget (not counting the start fee of $12,500.00, which was
budgeted and paid earlier) was approximately $25,000.00. The Authority had
only $500.00 out of pocket thanks to donations, sponsorships and the
volunteers who stepped up throughout the events.
Dave said that he is looking into getting mailboxes for the East Side as
previously discussed.
Dave stated that he is not sure if Josh Myrick has sent out the termination
letter which would terminate the lease agreement with thirty days notice as
per the lease agreement for the Viking Aircraft in one of the T-Hangars that
was discussed previously. He did say that the owner of the Viking Aircraft has
been out at the Airport working on it regularly.
Don Ward thanked Dave for the hard work he and others had done to make the
ARC a success. Dave thanked Pam Caudill for all the help she had given him
in the organization of the entire event.
Flightline First Report: Ethan McDonald stated that he thought that the Air
Race Classic was really great and helped advertise Fairhope and brought in
some tourism for the City.
Ethan said the ARC bought 1,206.5 gallons of fuel while in Fairhope. For June
9,072.8 gallons of AV gas were sold, 25,623 gallons of Jet-A were sold for a
total of 34,695.8 gallons.
En gineer's Report: Jordan Stringfellow stated that the grant application for
the Runway Project was submitted and included the cost to widen the taxiway
to use as a temporary runway during the construction of the Runway Project
with the full FAA required buildup of six inches of rock and three inches of
asphalt. The cost of widening the taxiway was approximately $350,000.00.
The FAA reviewed it and came back to Jordan saying they would not pay for
that. She and Don Ward talked with the FAA about looking at other options
and they also spoke with ALDOT who is requiring the widening of the taxiway.
ALDOT told Jordan that as the engineer of record for the project that she
needed to run the pavement analysis of what is required to widen the taxiway,
and they would approve it. Since it is only a thirty-day piece of pavement and
will be supporting 12,500-pound aircraft, they would only need two inches of
asphalt over a compacted red clay base to support the traffic for thirty days.
Jordan reached out to the Contractor for an updated quote which came in at
$106 ,000.00. Jordan then reached out to the FAA, and they said that they
would approve it.
Pel Henry asked how long the widening would be and Jordan stated that it
would be for three thousand feet. Pel then asked if it would affect the new
lighting and Jordan said it would, and they would probably ask the lighting
contractor to wait until the temporary widening material is removed before
installing the new lights. Everything will be discussed at the Pre-Construction
meeting next week.
Don Ward stated that they needed to make a motion for a resolution to
approve and resubmit a revised grant application for the Runway
Strengthening and Lighting Replacement Project. A motion was made by Pel
Henry to submit the revised application, second by Len Strickland and
unanimously passed. The resolution will go to the City Council for Approval
next Tuesday and once approved, then the Mayor can sign it.
Jordan stated that ALDOT has issued it's call for projects letter and they will be
meeting with ALDOT in the next couple of weeks to talk about updates to
Capital Improvement Plans and what the outlook is for the different airports
so she wants to meet with Don and Dave next week to go over everything and
the pre-apps for 2026 are due at the end of September.
Don Ward asked Jordan about getting core samples on the large dirt pile at the
south end of the Airport to see if it would be okay to move it to fill in low spots
over on the East Side of the Airport. Jordan stated that when the Geo -Techs
come out to do compaction tests that she will have them do it then.
Aspire Aviation Report: Quinton Dupper stated that they had eighty-one
hours of flight time for June and five and one-half hours of Discovery and
Charity Flights. They also had one hundred eighty-four hours of instructional
time. He said once they average about 87 hours of flight time, they will receive
another aircraft and more instructors. Quinton also stated that they had three
students who had solo flights.
Treasurer's Report: Pel Henry stated that the bank accounts are in good
order and Don Ward stated that most of the money in the grant account and
the escrow account is spoken for to go toward the upcoming projects.
Legal Report: No report.
Board Discussion/Approval Requests: No Report.
Other Business: No Report.
Comments from Advisory Council Members: Russ Kilgore stated that the
Aviation Council will meet the last week in September in Muscle Shoals, Al.
Russ also stated that everyone should be aware of how hard everyone worked
before and during the ARC, especially Dave Friedel, Pam Caudill, and Ethan
McDonald, to make it a success and that Fairhope should be proud of being
able to participate with the ARC also. He also stated that if Fairhope ever got
the opportunity to host the ARC again that they should do it.
Comments from the General Public: No Report.
Adjournment: 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 adjourned at 5:45PM.
Don Ward, Chairman