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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-12-2026 Fairhope Airport Authority Meeting MinutesMinutes of Fairhope Airport Authority May 12, 2026 The Fairhope Airport Authority met May 12, 2026, at 5:00PM in the City of Fairhope Council Chambers at 161 N Section Street. Present: Pel Henry, Chairman, Will Bruce, Susana Freeman, Len Strickland, Don Ward, Ronnie Holyfield, and Jack Burrell. Also present was Josh Myrick, Attorney, and Dave Friedel, Airport Manager. Cynthia A Boothe took the Minutes. The Minutes of the April 7, 2026, Regular Meeting were considered and approved with a motion by Len Strickland, second by Don Ward and unanimously passed. Airport Manager's Report: Dave Fridel reported that the Traffic Count for April was 6,645, which was down a little from last year's April count of 7,775. Dave said they have been waiting for the final reflective striping and it is now scheduled for tonight . He has NOTAMS for the week with 8:00pm to 6:00am closures. Dave stated that the Authority approved the change to the FBO hours based on Standard Time/Daylight Savings Time. Daylight Savings Time begins the second Sunday in March and ends the first Sunday in November. He has published permanent attendance hours April through October 0700-2000, November through March 0700-1900. Dave reported that the FAA is starting a test of remote tower operations using cameras and controllers in a facility somewhere on the airport. The Airport is not able to apply for the program at this time, but once the tests are complete and it is implemented on a large scale the Airport could benefit from potentially using remote ATC without having to build an ATC Tow er. Dave stated that the FAA will be canceling our VOR/DME Alpha approach at some point. Dave said he has discussed with Volkert about updating the CIP as ALDOT will be requesting updates soon. Dave stated that the Civil Air Patrol has been using lockers in the row two T­ han gar bathroom for shared equipment. He wants to know if the Authority would be willing to offer the use of an endcap as there are a couple of them sitting empty and would they need some kind of lease. Josh Myrick, Attorney, stated that a lease would not be required. After a group discussion, Dave stated that he would get with Josh about any requirements from the Authority. Len Strickland made a motion to give permission to the Civil Air Patrol to use an end cap for storage and get a letter from them stating that they will follow the Authority's requirements for use, second by Jack Burrell and unanimously passed. Dave stated that the PAPI lights are installed and are waiting for the FAA to do a Flight Check . Jordan Stringfellow from Volkert is working to get the Flight Check scheduled. Dave stated that for the Authority's Liability Insurance, Per Attachment C, there are three types of operators requiring insurance. FBO, A&P, and Avionic/Instruments/Propeller repair. These all require Hangar Keeper Liability policies. It does not list anything for a cleaner or detailer. One of the companies that has been approved for a SASO says that they will only be working inside the leased or owned facility of the aircraft owner. Because Hangar Keeper Liability insurance is very expensive, he would like to know if he can use a General Liability policy instead. Josh Myrick, Attorney stated that the insurance requirements need to be updated to reflect the different types of businesses that are coming to the Airport now. After a brief group discussion Dave stated that he would call around to other airports to see what types of insurance they require for the different businesses that they have. Dave said that he has a SASO application for V2 Aviation Service Co owned by Chris Fowler. He will be an On Demand Aircraft Maintenance Operator and will service Business Jets only. They would not have a leased space. They are wondering if the requirements for a SASO could be waived for the leased space and the Hangar Keepers Liability Insurance as they would not need them for their On Demand business model. After a group discussion, Josh Myrick stated that they would need to revisit the Minimum Standards and Insurance Requirements for all the new types of businesses that are moving onto the Airport. Don Ward asked V2 Aviation if the Authority could table their Application until next month so that they can revisit the Minimum Standards and Insurance Requirements and V2 Aviation agreed. Dave stated that he has an application for a lease transfer request for Lot P-18 from Don Lagarde to Apex Aviation. Brian Stuart of Apex Aviation is wanting to see if it is possible to reset the lease to a forty year lease as it is already about five years into the lease and to reset the time line for building the han gar. After a group discussion the Authority stated that the forty year lease would not be reset but the building timeline would be reset. Don Ward made a motion that the transfer would be approved pending receipt of final documents, negotiation of the lease, and resetting of the building timeline. There was a second by Len Strickland and it unanimously passed. Flightline First Report: Dave Friedel reported for Ethan McDonald that the fuel sales for April were 8,313.7 gallons of AV-gas, 42,808 gallons of Jet-A, for a total of 51,121.7 gallons. The new General Manager for the FBO is Tyler who will be overseeing all the day to day operations. The monthly breakfast will be next Tuesday for anyone who can attend. Aspire Aviation Report: No Report. Engineer's Report: Jordan Stringfellow thanked everyone for all of their help to make the Runway Project run so smoothly and except for the striping everything else is finished. There was a final walk through last week on the Taxiway Lighting Project and only found a couple of punch list items to do to finish the project. They are submitting a closeout package for the Seal Coat Project this week. The Taxiway Lighting Project was paid for with AIG Money and Jordan submitted the application yesterday to collect the last year of the AIG Money and should receive it this fall. Jordan stated that she would like to sit down with Dave and the Authority Members about any changes that may need to be made to the Capital Improvement Plan before meeting with ALDOT this fall. She will send out an email to arrange a meeting time. Treasurer's Report: Don Ward presented the Financial Statement for April and went over the Revenue and Expenses for the month. He stated that everything was in line and looks good for the month. Don stated that he went over with Jordan all the expenses for the three projects the Airport did this year which included the Runway Project, the Taxiway Lighting Project, and the Seal Coat Project. The total cost of all three projects came to about $8.2 million dollars and the total cost that the Airport paid for the projects was about $560,000.00. Don reported that there is one of the T-Hangar tenants that is consistently having returned checks or credit card payments that has been going on for quite some time. He asked if there was something that could be done in the way of a fine or lease termination to try to take care of the problem. After a gr oup discussion, Josh Myrick, Attorney, stated that Dave can inform them that the next time a payment is returned that the Authority will not renew the lease after thirty days. Don stated that the Authority has had some recent communication with Senator Britt's office concerning the earmark for $500,000.00. It has been confir med and the Authority will be getting a formal request for how they want to spend the money shortly. The earmark will be handled through the FAA. Don stated that when they have the meeting for the Capital Improvement Plan that the Authority can decide at that time how they want the funds spent. legal Report: No Report. Board Discussion/ Approval Requests: No Report. Other Business: No Report. Comments for the Advisory Council Members: No Report. C,ontote_nt�ttomtn.e:General.,PubUc::._ JQ,shi Dwpla_n_tis, Dean.i@fWorikforce, Coa :s-taL C0m rmunity-,Gorteg�., g;El_MEl q.l[l uw..date QftJttrle:.Academ;rattb-e Airport� a1:1,d said!thattihey:wilf �--�dQi [rjig;tr,aJl[lil'.lJ{tors ,ubmarine,wo_r,k:fbr ·the ,N�vy incrudi rag r;iip:e -fittlinij' ancf rnar1ilfle: eJ:ectird<;;al .. 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