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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-2026 Fairhope Airport Authority Meeting MinutesMinutes of Fairhope Airport Authority January 13, 2026 The Fairhope Airport Authority met January 13, 2026, at 5:00PM in the City of Fairhope Council Chambers at 161 N Section Street. Present: Pel Henry, Chairman, Ronnie Holy field, Will Bruce, Don Ward, Susana Freeman, Len Strickland, and Jack Burrell. Josh My rick, Attorney, was absent. Also present was Dave Friedel, Airport Manager. Cynthia A Boothe took the Minutes. The Minutes of the December 9, 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 that the traffic count for December 2025 was 4,382. The year end count was 74,347 even with the runway downtime. The count for 2024 was 66,473. Dave stated that the Construction at the Airport is going well and the Taxiway and Runway Lighting work is continuing steadily. Alpha will be closed through this Friday for narrowing and grading. No touch­ and-go's are allowed during this period. Last night started the nightly closures until Friday the 23 rd for runway grooving and all final painting. Last night a smoothness test was done, and the readings were all good. Tonight will start the grooving. The closing times are 8:00PM to 6:00AM. The Southwest road will be paved later this month. The ramp sealing is curing, and the contractor will return on the 26th for follow­ up. Dave reported that on Thursday he met with Brian of Apex Constructors who was interested in doing some development on the Southwest corner of the Airport and submitted a LOI. After touring the area the information was shared with two of the companies that he works with and they also submitted LOls. Brian stated that he is a partner in Apex Constructors and they do Federal Construction. (They are not affiliated with Apex Construction.) He and his partners are interested in leases on the Southwest Side and said it was nice to meet the Authority members. The owner of the Bellanca Viking is still working with a buy er. There has been no ramp space due to ongoing projects so Dave has not pushed towing out but will now that the projects are almost completed. Dave reported that he is still waiting on the quote for the fence gate, will see after paving is done and will involve Volkert. Dave stated that Pavement Condition Index (PCI) survey will be coming Thursday and will be checking all pavements except the new runway. Dave stated that David Roberts, who is interested in building a hangar on lot P27-B, has turned in his signed lease. Pel Henry stated that he would also need a Performance Bond with the lease. Flightline First Report: Ethan McFonald reported that for the month of December 2025, that 5,789.3 gallons of AV-gas and 20 ,232 of Jet-A were sold for a total of 29,021.3 gallons. Ethan is still in contact with Carol Vos of the 99's about being the terminus for their Poker Run in April and about repainting the Compass Rose. Flightline First will provide all the supplies for the repainting and the 99's will have volunteers do the painting. Ethan stated that the Tuesday morning breakfast went well today and was well attended. Aspire Aviation Report: Louis from Aspire Aviation stated that in December they had 50 flight hours and 150 instructional hours. They have a few new students and also have a new plane. Engineer's Report: Jordan Stringfellow stated that the Runway is complete and open and that grooving will start tonight. Grooving and painting should be finished in the next two weeks. It will then have a partial final inspection for close out of the runway portion of the project. The lighting should be finalized soon; they are just waiting on some signage. They have the PAPI lights, Beacon, and Runway Lights. and after the signage is installed, they should be able to have a final inspection for the Lighting Project. The temporary widening of the Taxiway is being removed and then the Taxiway lights will be installed. The Seal Coating project is done except for a few touch-ups. The anchors have been installed, and cables will be moved this week. Painting will be done in about three weeks. Jordan stated that she, Pel, Don, Dave, and Len had a call with the FAA and ALDOT this morning about the current year's project which is the new AWOS. She is still waiting to hear about the half-million dollar earmark, but it still could be a while. The AWOS will be funded by the $150,000.00 AIP money and Volkert will be assisting with procurement and installation. She will also apply for funding to finish the Taxiway Lighting Project. The Grant Applications are due by May 15th . The Environmental Assessment for the HUD Grant to develop the Airport Industrial Park is completed and has been sent to the City for their final review. If the City has no comments, it will be forwarded to Hud for their final review, and if they have no comments then the City can move forward with transferring the land and start moving forward with development. Jordan mentioned that she has been in contact with Erik Cortinas, Building Official, about the tree clearing around the AWOS and gave him several options but has not heard back from him yet. Treasurer's Report: Don Ward presented a Profit and Loss Statement for December 2025 and went over the Revenue and Expense items for the month. Legal Report: No Report. Board Discussion/Approval Requests: Patrick Bryars of Bryars Aviation Maintenance stated that he is making a SASO request so that he can lease space at the Airport for his aircraft repair and maintenance business. Ethan McDonald stated the he is leasing the space from him in the North Hangar. After a brief question-and-answer period, Don Ward made a motion to approve Mr. Bryars SASO request subject to completion of a sub-lease agreement with Flightline First and Bryars Aviation Maintenance and having it approved by the Authority, insurance coverage, and a current City of Fairhope Business License. A second was made by Will Bruce and it was unanimously passed . Pel Henry stated that he needed a motion to approve a three dollar an hour raise to bring him to a rate of thirty-five dollars an hour for all the hard work he does for the Airport and the Authority. A motion was made by Len Strickland to approve the raise, second by Susana Freeman and unanimously passed. Other Business: No Report. Comments from Advisory Council Members: Russ Kilgore stated that at the last meeting that there was a discussion about having a plaque made for the four Tuskegee Airmen that the streets on the East Side are named after. Russ said that he contacted the museum at the Tuskegee Airport and he and Amy did further research and were able to get pictures to have a plaque ma de. Russ had the plaque made and presented it to the Authority. Ethan from Flightline First has agreed to have the plaque placed in the FBO and pictures were made to send to the Museum at Tuskegee Airport. Comments from the General Public: No Report. Adjournment: A motion was made by Don Ward to adjourn the meeting, second by Len Strickland and unanimously passed. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:40PM. Pel Henry, Chairman