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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-03-10 MinutesMARCH MINUTES FAYETTEVILLE EXECUTIVE AIRPORT BOARD MEETING March 10, 2011 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Nickle, Janice Stanesie, Otto Loewer, Tim McCarley, Rick Bailey, Mike Gibbs BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: One unfilled Board position STAFF PRESENT: Ray Boudreaux, James Nicholson, Louise Powers OTHERS ATTENDING: David Hollman-Flying Investments; Neal Bilbe-City Government Channel; MaryKathryn Floyd -Million Air; Warren Jones -Arkansas Air Museum; Josh Mahony- tenant; Wayne Jones -McClelland Consulting Engineers; Mario Campos -Fayetteville Fire Department ITEM #1: Welcome. Chairman. ITEM #2: Approval of the Board Minutes of the February 17. 2011 meeting. A motion to approve the minutes was made by Rick Bailey and seconded by Tim McCarley. The motion carried. ITEM #3: Receiving of Reports. A. Director Boudreaux, Aviation Director. The City's Nomination Committee has interviewed to fill the Board position. There were two applicants, one attended the interview and the other was on a flying trip and they talked to him by phone. One candidate, Josh Mahoney is here today. Selection will be made Tuesday night at the City Council meeting. The Airport's operations are down, we had two weeks of snow, which the staff worked hard to remove the snow from the runway and taxiways. Referencing the Runway Safety Area Project, the Arkansas Highway Department doesn't like the concrete at all the intersections and that will have to be corrected, although it was in the final plans they approved. That needs to be corrected by the end of the month. The FAA has said "no" to funding the Obstruction Removal Project. Action to get funding is a circular procedure involving several different FAA groups, each requiring many steps before it can be passed along to the next group. It was discussed if it would be beneficial for several of the Board Members, Ray and Wayne visit with the FAA, and it was decided to use that as a last resort. There are a couple of T -Hangars vacant. Loomacres is finding new species in their review of the airport. B. Financial Coordinator James Nicholson, Budget Report. Operations are down because of the bad weather, but the military and air carrier traffic is trending up. Mentioning the Financial Report, said the budget is holding steady. Charts from the agenda were projected on the screen. C. Senior Secretary Louise Powers, T -hangar Report. Reported there are two smaller hangars vacant. Director Boudreaux stated the Airport would give one month's rent free for an aircraft if committing to rent for one year. D. Wayne Jones, McClelland Engineers, Construction Report. The ground is too wet to do the finish work around the fences, it would leave impressions in the earth, and warm weather is needed to replace the concrete with asphalt at the intersections. Wayne and the contractors were complimented in keeping the costs down on the project. E. Museum Executive Director Warren Jones, Museum Report. Said his report was dismal, they had less than 50 visitors. Thanked MaryKathryn and Million Air for their help during the snow. Volunteers are going to Alma to pick up a plane that the Museum is going to leave uncovered so people can see what is inside. The museum will sell the plane's motor. Volunteers will also be going to Little Rock to pick up a trainer for the museum. It will be a great display and will be on permanent loan. The Aviator's Ball will be May 14th. Tickets are $50, with lots of fun and food. Several events coming up are "Rock the Runway", and the National Air Coop meeting in Tahlequah, and a fly -in breakfast in May or June. We are trying to preserve antique planes and aviation history. ITEM #4: Old Business. A. Review of Contract Tower Report. Director Boudreaux explained our Airport is listed right above Springdale and Rogers is further down the list. XNA and Texarkana grew their operations. Springdale and Rogers went down. These listings are of fully qualified towers operated by companies that contract to the FAA. RVA is the name of the company operating our tower. Discussion followed with several possible ways to draw people to the Airport, fly -ins and farmers market. Warren Jones mentioned that in two years the Women's Air Race will be using this airport as a stop. Young Eagles program with be on April 17`h at Drake Field, for youth 8 through 17. It will be held in Rogers in May, and in June back at our Airport. ITEM #5: New Business. A. Discussion: Airport CIP. Chairman Nickle explained this is something the Airport does every year for the FAA, giving them a list of CIP projects prioritized with estimated cost for the next five years, including what funding from the FAA would be used. The security project is listed as #2, and there was good response on the proposed apron work. A motion was made by Rick Bailey to approve the Airport CIP plan and forward it to the FAA. The motion was seconded by Mike Gibbs. The motion carried. Ray mentioned there has been a delay in the Arkansas Aeronautics funding. One of the State Representatives has put a hold on the funding of State Bill 17, the funding for Department of Aeronautics. Chairman Nickle asked Ray to email the Board with info to support the funding. Their funding is paid for by aviation users. ITEM #6: Other Business. A. Items from the Public. Frank Sperandeo, former Airport Board Member and pilot, said general aviation is really suffering. He expressed his concerns about gas price, the gate to the T - Hangars, having a moratorium on the hangar rent for another two years, and a question to Million Air about if and when are they getting Phillips fuel. Chairman Nickle said they couldn't answer now about the rent, the Airport has to prepare the budget every year and kept the rent the same for two years. The gate is being replaced as part of the Runway Safety Area project. MaryKathryn Floyd said as of February 1" the fuel has been from Phillips and we are waiting for them to change the sign to Phillips. B. Items from the Airport Board. None. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 2:38 p.m.. Otto 2 Date