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Home My WebLink AboutAirMinutes_2007_06_21Brookings Airport Board June 21, 2007 Brookings, SD 57006 A meeting of the Brookings Airport Board was called to order by Acting- chairperson Jeff Boulware at 3:50 PM on Thursday, June 21, 2007, in the Meeting Room at City Hall. Members present were James Bailey, Robb Sexauer, Harry Forsyth, Lynn Riedesel, and Boulware. Also present were Bob Fite, Harry Thompson, Terry Pritchard, Curt Nelson, Andy Olson – HNTB, Mark Moberly, TSA, Jim Jones, Sr. – Big Sioux Aviation, City Engineer Jackie Lanning, Airport Maintenance/Operations Technician Jeremy Scott, and Airport Manager Mike Wilson. Item #2 – (Bailey/Forsyth) Motion to approve the minutes from the May 17, 2007 meeting. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED. Item #3 – (Forsyth/Bailey) Motion to approve the agenda. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED. Item #4 – The next meeting will be on Thursday, July 19, 2007. Item #5 – Introduction of new Airport Manager Mike Wilson. Mike was hired to replace Patrick Dame. Mike began with the City of Brookings on June 1 with ARFF Training in Watertown. Mike has a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management from St. Cloud State University. Item #6 – Report from Mark Moberly – TSA – Moberly addressed a letter that airports had received regarding inspections in non-secured areas. Moberly said that when it comes to screening, one size does not fit all, and this directive does not affect all airports in the same way. It addresses larger airports. He said screeners will be at checkpoints and other places where others have access to secure areas. He added that it is not intended to impact general aviation, but pilots must understand that they can be checked or searched in non-secure areas. Sexauer and Riedesel now present. Moberly added that in larger airports, screening is necessary because screeners do not know every face or every name as they do in smaller airports like Brookings. He added that it is a requirement, and it is not going to go away. Lanning asked at which gate in Brookings the screeners would be. Moberly answered that checks could be made of any vehicle or at any pedestrian access also. Moberly said screeners use common sense and only want to protect the airliner while it is on the ground. Bailey asked if private hangars could be checked. Moberly answered that there is a possibility they could be checked, but probably not. Bob Fite said the hangar area is considered a non-secure area. He was wondering if there should be a line designating secure/non-secure areas. Fite said screeners could find items in the non-secure area that shouldn’t be in a secure area. Moberly said that is fine if the person has a reasonable explanation as to why they have the “items of interest”. Moberly also said that screeners have the right to search any areas where there is access to the secure area. Fite asked again if it would be a good idea to delineate between secure and non-secure areas. Moberly said that it could be done if that would make people feel more comfortable. Moberly added that the area is only considered secure when the airline is on the ground. TSA’s concern is the commercial airline. Moberly added that Brookings has an excellent group of screeners. He commended the job they are doing. Boulware thanked Moberly for attending the Airport Board meeting and increasing the understanding of what the TSA will be doing. Item #7 – Update on temporary zoning control issue – Lanning said the conversation regarding temporary zoning controls will tie in with the presentation by Andy Olson – HNTB. She said the City Council will act on temporary zoning controls at the July 10 City Council Meeting. She asked the Board if they would like a presentation from Olson every month or every other month. The Board agreed that every other month would be adequate. Lanning said that Bob Babcock – HNTB, would be present for some of the meetings also. Item #8 – Update from HNTB – Andy Olson – Olson said that since the open house on June 4, 2007, HNTB has started the EA process (Environmental Assessment). They have begun increasing the coordination with the FAA and other agencies. Olson said they have met with Tom Schauer and Patty Dressler from the FAA. A draft of the EA will be released in November 2007 and tentatively finalized by March 2008. Bailey asked if an “informational channel” including Wilson and the Airport Board could be established between Lanning and the issuance of building permits in areas around the present airport. Lanning said yes. Terry Pritchard, from the audience, asked if the on-site alternative could be posted on the website. Olson said he would send it to Lanning when it is ready. Lanning said she would see that it gets on the website. Item #9 – Inspection to be conducted by Deputy Fire Chief – Wilson said hangar inspections will be conducted on June 27, 2007 by the Deputy Fire Chief Pete Bolzer. Not only will Bolzer be checking the hangars, but he will also be training Wilson and Scott in managing the hangar checks in the future. Item #10 – FBO Agreement with Big Sioux Aviation – Wilson said he met with Lanning, City Manager Dennis Falken, Jim Jones, Sr., and Jim Jones, Jr. regarding a contract with the Fixed Base Operator. Lanning said she and Wilson have some research to do. And then the group will meet again. Boulware asked when they planned to have it completed. Wilson said within the next 30 days because it needs to go to the City Manager. Sexauer asked why there was presently no agreement with the FBO. Wilson said the agreement with the FBO is a land lease agreement. Bailey and Boulware were concerned about their sign stating areas for rent for commercial purposes. Wilson said that the lease states aviation use only, and he discussed that with Randy Hanson. Item #11 – Airport Manager’s Report – Wilson stated that he has received the sign stating that the terminal parking is limited to airline patrons only. He said a three (3) foot anchor must be in place for signs so a survey needs to be done before putting the sign up. Wilson said he talked on the phone with a gentleman from the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) after he received a notice stating 90 days late for payment for an advertisement in their magazine. He told him that is not advantageous for Brookings to put an ad in the magazine, and we would not be doing it, nor would we be paying the charge. Boulware asked Wilson to check the beacon as it seems to be on at all hours. Wilson said it should be automated, and he will check it. Jones, Sr. asked if someone checked the timing on the runway lights. He said he had a pilot that needed to do three approaches before he could land. Wilson said the lights have been working on every daily inspection he has done, but he will look into it. Wilson said he has met with City Manager Falken, Fire Chief Darrell Hartmann, Great Lakes Airline Manager Brian Cossette, and Lanning regarding the scheduling of the ARFF fire fighters. He said because the airliner sometimes lands early, the firefighters do not have the minimum 15 minute window that is required for them to be in place before the plane lands. Wilson said that the fire fighters are now paid per event. He is suggesting that they get paid per hour instead. Then they are paid for the actual time they spend at the airport because they will need to come in slightly earlier than before to meet the 15 minute regulation. Sexauer asked what the fire fighters are presently being paid and if this change will impact the budget. Wilson said they are paid $20.00 per event. He is proposing $20.00 per hour, and this change would have minimal impact on the budget. Item #12 – FBO Report – Jones, Sr., said he didn’t have any exact figures for the Board, but Big Sioux Aviation’s activity is up somewhat. Boulware asked how fuel sales were. Jones, Sr. said Great Lakes is taking on lots of fuel as is Bio-Energy. Bailey asked if anyone had heard anything about the Essential Air Service (EAS). Sexauer said he had made two calls the previous day, but they have not been returned yet. He believes the congressional contingent to be ambivalent. Wilson was asked what rapport Great Lakes has with the City of Brookings. Wilson said there are no major issues except the times when they arrive early. Jones, Sr. said there is a need to have the City show interest in keeping the airline in Brookings. Item #13 – TSA Report – No one was present with a report. Item #14 – Air Carrier Report – No one was present with a report. The meeting was adjourned. ____________________________ _______________________________ Diane M. Spencer, Secretary Jeff Boulware, Vice-Chairperson