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Home My WebLink About2013-03-14 MinutesFAYETTEVILLE EXECUTIVE AIRPORT BOARD MINUTES March 14, 2013 MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Nickle, Mike Gibbs, Joshua Mahony, Bill Corley, Rick Bailey, Marty Burggraf, Ken Haxel MEMBERS ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: Wayne Jones -McClelland Engineers; Warren Jones -Arkansas Air and Military Museum; Jeffery Gates -Museum volunteer; Neal Bilbe-City's Government Channel; Terry Gulley -Director of City's Transportation Dept.; Peter Mastroianni-Million Air Fayetteville; Bill Keller; Rick McKinney -T -Hangar tenant; Bruce Dunn -Iron Pig Festival; Corbin Freeman -Iron Pig Festival; Bob Christiansen -Boy Scouts; R.T. Hughen-Boy Scouts ITEM #1: Welcome. Chairman Nickle. Chairman Nickle mentioned the letter to the FAA and the tower closing. He said that even if nothing is resolved in Washington, Drake Field will still have to have a tower during Football season. Discussion followed regarding the tower and the sequestration. Boudreaux urged everyone to please contact their representatives. ITEM #2: Approval of the Airport Board Minutes of the January 10, 2012 meeting. Rick Bailey said on Item 6 "Items from the Public", he wants to change "swung down" to "swung in". A motion to approve the minutes with the proposed change was made by Rick Bailey, and seconded by Ken Haxel. The motion carried. ITEM #3: Receiving of Reports. A. Director Boudreaux, Aviation Director. Boudreaux discussed his letter to the FAA and the tower's importance during football season. Drake Field's tower count level has increased to #177 and the operations count has increased by 19% year over year. Boudreaux said this is in part thanks to the flight school (SkyVenture) and the increase of military traffic (Pete Mastroianni). Boudreaux thanked Mastroianni for all he has done over the years, even though the contract FBO did not work out. The NFlight project and progress was discussed. The bids are due March 281h and the airport's share will be 20% of total project. Boudreaux introduced and welcomed Jacob Crutchfield, the airport's new line supervisor. SkyVenture now has a 172 charter certificate for a single pilot. Boudreaux said it is now possible to get a quick charter flight to Little Rock from FYV. The potential tower closing was discussed in further detail. The FAA set April 7 for the tower closings to go into effect; all towers in Arkansas except LIT and XNA will be closed. Boudreaux pointed out two of the major problems with closing the tower are game day traffic and people/planes crossing the runway. Haxel said it will still be possible to talk to Razorback Approach and Memphis Center. 1 Nickle pointed out that Mark Frankum offered to hold a seminar on operating at uncontrolled airports. B. Financial Coordinator James Nicholson, Budget Report. Airport operations continue to grow. Operations have beaten the previous year month over month. Drake Field is 17% ahead of last year so far. Nicholson reported that military traffic is up, but itinerant jets still account for the largest part of fuel sales. Revenue is slightly behind budgeted revenue due to FAA and postal service rents and the contract FBO was only billed for half of this month. Nicholson pointed out that the airport is about to spend a whole lot of money on the FBO this next month which could look rough until the revenues catch up with expenses. Buying fuel is expensive! Nickle said these investments must be made which will hopefully generate income over time. Nicholson said when we buy the load of jet fuel we will be able to meet the margin we had hoped to meet and reduce the fuel price by .35 cents retail price. C. Administrative Assistant, Lauren Treat, T -Hangar Report. All T -Hangars are still full, with 9 rented for storage. D. Wayne Jones, McClelland Engineers, Construction Report. Regarding the NFlight project, Wayne said they (NFlight, Boudreaux, contractor) were able to save about $45,000. Wayne mentioned the upcoming project with the City of West Fork which entails running West Fork's sanitary waste to the City of Fayetteville. Wayne discussed where the construction would occur on and around the airport. He said he doubts construction would interfere with BBBBQ&B or the ARC, but everything will be worked out in the negotiations. Boudreaux said the construction might pose a problem for the Museum. Discussion of easements followed. E. Museum Executive Director Warren Jones, Museum Report. Warren reported that the plans for the BBBBQ&B and the ARC are moving right along. Warren said aviation seems to be popular in schools and there are multiple groups of students scheduled to visit the Museum in the coming months. Though he did not initially want to have an Aviator Ball this year, Warren said he now intends to hold the event in early fall because The Jack Mitchell Band offered to do an event at half price. Warren said he and Boudreaux are in the process of analyzing how they can approach the City Council about the ineffective sprinkler system. Also, Warren reported that the ceiling is coming down in the military museum and the recent rain has created a big mess. One of the Museum's helicopters was transferred to Tulsa where it is being restored for their ball on April 27. Warren said he appreciates Rick Bailey's help during the process. ITEM #4: Old Business. A. Update: City -run FBO. Terry Gulley said the asking price was originally $275,000 but after negotiations, we will end up paying $57,500. That includes all equipment, office furniture, lobby stuff, etc. - everything except the computers. There will be a payment of $45,000 upfront. Novation will occur no later than 12/31/13; the military contract will have to start by Jan 1. Woolsey is paying Mastroianni thru the end of the year to travel around and talk up Drake Field to the military. The airport will receive half the profit of military fuel sales and Woolsey will get the other half until that date. Gulley said the belt loader and air stairs still need to be purchased (out of the $98,000 start up costs). He said he is confident that the airport will have enough money for everything. Corley asked if any of this will be applied to our "bad debt" ($22,500). Boudreaux said if it did, the airport would be in the black we are deducting from start up cost column. Gulley said the bottom line is the same and the sales tax owed to the state remains in their name. Rick McKinney and Boudreaux discussed the WSI weather station. B. Update: Marketing Committee Josh Mahony and Rick Bailey volunteered to join Bill Corley (committee chairman) on the committee. Rick McKinney suggested Mastrioanni be included, as well. Corley said there is no name, graphic package, etc. for the FBO yet. Elkins Design will be utilized for less than a thousand dollars. The total budget is not to exceed ten thousand so next there will need to be an RFP to build out the whole branding package. A motion to have the marketing committee as a regular reporting committee to the board was made by Rick Bailey, and seconded by Josh Mahony. The motion carried. ITEM #5: New Business. A. Iron Pig Festival (March 30), Bruce Dunn. The festival events (dualthon/5K/fun walk/bike-only) will be held on March 30 from 9 — 10 AM at the airport. Dunn said he expects about 600 people total to register, along with a large audience. To ensure safety, EMS, fire department, police are all involved. Boudreaux said the Iron Pig is a tradition at Drake Field and all the pilots are aware of the event. Boudreaux said he and Wayne will walk the runway and check for cracks during the race. Wayne said they will also look to see if there are any issues with the structural aspect of the pavement to help with planning for rehab. A motion to approve the Iron Pig Event was made by Mike Gibbs and seconded by Josh Mahony. The motion carried. B. Boy Scout Camporee (April 5-7), Bob Christiansen. Boudreaux said the scouts/camp would be located on the East side of the airport, south of the USDA area and clear of T-HGRS and any airport activity. They will be segregated so the campers do not get into the airport in any way. Boudreaux said they would need port -a -potties, etc. and the airport will need to be additionally insured. Fires must be properly controlled. A motion to allow the Boy Scouts to hold their Camporee on the airport's property was made by Rick Bailey and seconded by Ken Haxel. The motion carried. C. Hay Lease extension, Donnie Sams. Nickle asked if improving forage grasses would result in more bird hazards? Boudreaux said the Wildlife Hazard assessment did not find those fields problematic to the airport. The area is already a hayfield — the project would just improve the hay that is there. Nicholson said Sams would have a set of specifications that he will have to attend in order keep the field within the environmental program guidelines. Boudreaux pointed out that the airport will get some good credit since this is an environmental project. A motion to extend hay lease through July 2018 (two more years) was made by Mike Gibbs and seconded by Josh Mahony. The motion carried. ITEM #6: Other Business. A. Items from the Public. None. B. Items from the Airport Board. Mahony said the Pigs go to Market tonight and suggested Board check out Pigshibition! Gibbs said reminded the Board that he will be in Chengdu, China the next couple of months. He said he might Skype-in to Board meetings but it will be around 3:00 AM in China. Boudreaux asked the Marketing Committee to please notify Lauren before they meet so she can notify the press and City. MEETI OU D AT 3:06 p.m. 1 � 3 Jos dMahony, Secretary Date 4