HomeMy WebLinkAboutAirMinutes_2008_12_01Brookings Airport Board
Brookings, SD 57006
December 1, 2008
The Brookings Airport Board was called to order by Chairperson Jeff Boulware
on Monday, December 1, 2008 at 3:30 PM in the Meeting Room at City Hall.
Members present were Lynn Riedesel, Jim Bailey, Orv Smidt, Harry Forsyth, and
Boulware. Also present were Randy Hanson and Jerry Waltman – Pheasant’s Fury,
City Manager Jeff Weldon, City Engineer Jackie Lanning, and Airport Manager
Mike Wilson.
Item #2 – (Bailey/Riedesel) Motion to approve the amended minutes from the
November 25, 2008 meeting. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED.
Item #3 – (Smidt/Forsyth) Motion to approve the agenda. All present voted aye.
MOTION CARRIED.
Item #4 – Airport Board recommendation of an air carrier for Essential Service – The
Board began their discussion on Essential Air Service by referring to a letter from SD
Department of Transportation which stated that “based on passenger data for the
year ended September 30, 2007, Great Lakes’ proposed subsidy exceeds
$500/passenger (i.e. more than $1,000 per round trip), and that Brookings would
almost certainly lose subsidy eligibility on September 30, 2009.” Airport Manager
Mike Wilson said it depends on how the DOT views the $500 per passenger cap.
Wilson added that Senator John Thune has been a big supporter of EAS in
Brookings, and Wilson didn’t feel that Thune would allow this to happen. Wilson said
he had contacted Huron, and their airport manager had never heard of a $500
cap. Wilson added that if there is a cap, it would depend on how the DOT views
the $500/per passenger figure. Riedesel said it could be a real mess after getting
the TSA all set up again in Brookings. Boulware felt that Great Lakes must be aware
of this limitation. City Manager Jeff Weldon said the comment was very disturbing
for Brookings. Wilson said he would call the DOT and get the comment clarified.
Regarding Sovereign Air, Inc. Wilson felt that the Board had been given some
misinformation at the last meeting. Bailey felt Sovereign Air would be better to bid
at the next bid letting after they take care of some of their issues. Wilson agreed.
Riedesel felt that Sovereign Air had not been totally truthful in their presentation
and saw many discrepancies. City Engineer Jackie Lanning asked the Board if they
wanted to allow a nine (9) passenger plane for EAS as Sovereign Air was proposing.
Riedesel said absolutely not! Boulware said that Sovereign Air cannot operate a
scheduled service for nine passengers or less on a 135 Certificate. Boulware asked
Wilson if commuter service and on-demand service is the same. Wilson said yes and
with a part 135 certificate it is possible to fly nine or less passengers on scheduled
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service. Boulware also felt that a nine (9) passenger airplane was too limited for
Brookings’ Essential Air Service.
Wilson requested that the Board send a letter to Senators John Thune and Tim
Johnson thanking them for their support for EAS in Brookings. He said he would also
get a letter of recommendation from the mayor. Bailey asked if Brookings could
show good growth in EAS, would Great Lakes be willing to stay in Brookings. Wilson
said yes, he believed so. Forsyth asked if Great Lakes would do any promotions.
Wilson answered that they would probably do the same as they had before when
they started in Brookings.
Riedesel asked Weldon how the economy was for the City of Brookings.
Weldon said Brookings has not seen industry lay-off as of yet, but evaporation of job
availability was possible. He added that the sales tax was doing ok in Brookings,
and the City remains on budget. He said he expects the housing starts to slow
down somewhat in the future months. Boulware asked Weldon how long it would
be before the City saw a financial impact of having liquor/wine sales in the local
stores. Weldon said it depends on many things, but he would guess about two (2)
months. He added that it could negatively impact the liquor store sales, but have
no impact on city coffers.
Bailey asked about ticket prices through Great Lakes. Wilson said it would be
as it was before – one month prior to the flight would be around $69, and it would
go up as the flying date gets closer. Smidt felt advertising would be important, and
Great Lakes should make that effort. Wilson said Daktronics would need to be
visited and encouraged to fly locally as they have many employees that fly out of
Sioux Falls. Forsyth asked if the Board would approve an EAS carrier today, how
long would it be until TSA was set up. Wilson said four approximately (4) months.
Boulware said that summer would be the best time to start flying, but marketing
should begin now. Riedesel felt that Great Lakes’ only drawback would be that
they would use the Humphrey terminal and not the Lindbergh terminal in
Minneapolis. However, he said those plans could change. When flying into
Humphrey terminal, passengers would need to go through security again and take
a train to Lindbergh terminal. Wilson added that if Great Lakes ties to another
airline, then they could fly into Lindbergh directly. He said that he hopes they are
working on those agreements now. Wilson said that when the DOT does their
selection, they take into consideration airlines that have baggage agreements
already in place.
(Bailey/Forsyth) Motion to recommend to the DOT that the Brookings Airport
Board supports Great Lakes Airlines for Essential Air Service in Brookings and request
that the City Council (mayor) send a letter of support. All present voted aye.
MOTION CARRIED.
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After the motion was made and seconded, Randy Hanson said that he also
supported the Board’s decision. He also asked the Board how they felt about a
request he had received from Sovereign Air. He said that Sovereign Air would like to
keep their C172 at the Brookings Airport to be used for rental purposes. He asked
the Board if they had any issues with that request. The plane would sit outside until it
was scheduled for flying. Then it would be moved inside if the weather were cold.
Riedesel suggested Hanson check everything very carefully like proof on insurance,
maintenance agreements, and plane ownership. Hanson said what he would do
for Sovereign Air would be the paperwork, fill the plane with fuel, and send the
paperwork to Sovereign Air. Boulware also said Hanson should check with his
insurance to see if it authorized for flight training. Boulware said he would be
concerned for the FBO if the renters of the plane are doing training in it. Forsyth said
if the FBO has all their bases covered, he would see no problem with the situation.
Lanning mentioned to the Board that HNTB and Helms Associates would be
conducting two (2) meeting in Brookings regarding the Environmental Assessment.
The first meeting will be on Tuesday, December 2, at 9:00 AM at the County
Commission meeting in the 1921 Building. The second meeting will be Tuesday
evening, December 2, at the City/County Joint Planning Commission meeting at
8:00 PM in the Council Chamber at City Hall. The same information would be
presented at each meeting.
Bailey commended Wilson and thanked him for his excellent job of getting
information together and making it available to the Board. He said they appreciate
his efforts.
The meeting was adjourned.
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Diane M. Spencer, Secretary Jeff Boulware, Chairperson