HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-09-2025 Fairhope Airport Authority Meeting MinutesMinutes of Fairhope Airport Authority
December 9, 2025
The Fairhope Airport Authority met December 9, 2025, at 5:00PM in the City of
Fairhope Council Chambers at 161 N Section Street.
Present: Pel Henry, Chairman, Ronnie Holyfield, Will Bruce, Don Ward,
Susana Freeman, and Len Strickland. Jack Burrell was absent. Josh Myrick,
Attorney, was absent. Also Present was Dave Friedel, Airport Manager.
Cynthia A Boothe took the Minutes.
The Minutes of the November 18, 2025, Regular Meeting were considered and
approved with a motion by Don Ward, second by Len Strickland and
unanimously passed.
Airport Manager's Report: Dave Friedel reported the traffic count for
November was 927, lower because of the ongoing Runway Project.
Dave stated that the Runway Project is going well and the runway opened on
time before Thanksgiving. He also stated that the lighting project and seal
coat projects are ongoing and going well.
Dave reported that the owner of the Bellanca Viking is working with a buyer, so
he has not towed him out. He told the owner that if the buy falls through that
he will then tow the plane out.
Dave met with the fence guy, and he will have estimates for the west side area
in a few days. The year-old estimate for $26,000.00 may go up a little bit. They
will add a new operator and use the T-hangar operator in the second phase on
Bishop. May look to move fenceline on Bishop to accommodate the gate but
will see after paving is done and will involve Volkert.
Dave is looking at County Rd 13 new construction gate area that may need
grading coming up to existing elevation.
Dave stated that the Authority may want to look at Moody doing two add on
projects while they are at the airport. One is for lighting on the ramp in front of
the old FBO for $31,800.00 and the other is for lighting for the first row of T
hangars for $7,500.00. Jordan Stringfellow stated that she would look and see
how the budget is going before adding on other projects.
Dave reported that the 68 Ventures hangar is undergoing final inspections and
expecting their CO soon.
Pavement Condition Index (PCI) survey will be done the middle of January via
ALDOT contract.
Dave said that he received an email from the Airport Terminal Program about
available funds and asked Jordan Stringfellow of Volkert Engineering if she
thought they could submit an application for turning the West Side into a
general aviation terminal. Jordan stated that she would be happy to help him
put together an application but the chances of getting the funds is low. Don
Ward stated that the FAA would have very strict guidelines for how the building
would have to be renovated and he does not feel they would approve the
layout that is being requested. Dave stated that he would look at the FAA
requirements to see if it looks like the renovations would meet FAA guidelines.
Dave reported that for the leases that are still outstanding with their
payments, one paid by check, one said it was mailed over a week ago and he
still has not seen it, and one is still outstanding and Dave is adding a late fee
to it.
Flightline First Report: Ethan McDonald reported that in November the fuel
sales were 4,444.8 gallons of AV-gas and 4,188.00 gallons of Jet-A for a total of
8,632.8 gallons.
Ethan has been working with Carol Vos from the 99's about being the terminus
for their Poker Run in April followed by an awards banquet.
Ethan is also working with the 99's about repainting the rosette on the lower
west ramp in the spring as the current paint is fading out.
Ethan stated that the new weights for the runway are for a single wheel,
80,000 pounds, dual wheel, 102,000 pounds, and for a tandem 159,000
pounds. He stated that should handle anything the Airport needs.
Aspire Aviation Report: Louis of Aspire Aviation reported that even though
they had a little slower month because of the holidays they had seventy flight
hours, one hundred fifty instructional hours, one private pilot check ride that
passed, one student solo, and three new students.
Engineer's Report: Jordan reported that the Runway Project paving is
complete and the runway is open. The permanent striping and grooving will
take place the first week in January, weather permitting. The temporary
widening of the taxiway was to be removed last week but the poor weather
prevented that, and it will probably be done next week.
The Lighting Project is waiting on parts to be shipped around the 19th and
hopefully they will be finished installing the lights by the early part of January.
The Taxiway Lighting Project is moving along, and they are now working on the
south end of the taxiway.
The Seal Coat Project had some weather delays, but they have started the
seal coating on the northwest side in the last few days hoping to finish the
whole west side by the end of the weekend. The east side is scheduled to
start tomorrow but Jordan is not sure if it will actually start then. The whole
project should be completed by Christmas and be temporarily striped. They
will come back a month later to put in permanent striping.
Jordan still has no word on the earmarked money. Jordan stated that we
should be getting GO-letters from the State anytime now and was hoping to
have them by this meeting so she could talk about the upcoming 2026
projects. It will probably be just for the $150,000.00 AIP money to go toward
the replacement of the AWOS.
Jordan stated that the West Side Industrial Park Environmental Assessment
public comment period closed over the weekend, so her team is wrapping up
the report, and it should be to the City by the end of next week for their
comment. If there is no comment from the City the report will be finished and
the Authority can go ahead and design the Industrial Park and transfer the
property.
Treasurer's Report: Don Ward distributed a Financial Statement and went
over the November revenues and expenses.
Legal Report: No Report.
Board Discussion/Approval Requests: No Report.
Other Business: No Report.
Comments from Advisory Council Members: Will Bruce stated that he and
Ethan McDonald had been talking about the Authority trying to get photos and
a plaque for the lobby of the FBO of the four Tuskegee Airmen that the four
streets on the East Side are named after. A sug gestion was made to contact
the Museum at the Tuskegee Airport and Russ Kilgore stated that he would
contact someone he knew there for information about the Airmen.
Comments from the General Public: No Report.
Adjournment: A motion was made by Don Ward to adjourn the meeting,
second by Ronnie Holyfield and unanimously passed.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:52PM.
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