HomeMy WebLinkAboutAirMinutes_2009_05_11Brookings Airport Board
Brookings, SD 57006
May 11, 2009
The Brookings Airport Board was called to order by Chairperson Jeff Boulware
on Monday May 11, 2009 at PM in the Council Chamber at City Hall. Members
present were Lynn Riedesel, Jim Bailey, Orv Smidt, Judy McLaughlin, and Boulware.
Also present were Randy Hanson – Pheasant’s Fury, Bob Babcock – Helms & Assoc.,
Patricia Dressler, Tom Schauer, and Dave Anderson – FAA, Andy Van Del and John
Becker – SDDOT Office of Aeronautics, City Council members Julie Whaley, Tim Reed
and newly elected Council member John Kubal, City Manager Jeff Weldon, and
Airport Manager Mike Wilson.
Item #2 – (Riedesel/Smidt) Motion to approve amended minutes from the April 16,
2009 meeting. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED.
Item #3 – (Smidt/Bailey) Motion to approve the agenda. All present voted aye.
MOTION CARRIED.
Item #4 – The next meeting will be held on June 11, 2009 at 1:00 PM in the City Hall
meeting room.
Item #5 – New Business
• Chairman Boulware welcomed new board member Judy McLaughlin. She
replaces Harry Forsyth who has served the City and the Airport Board for the
past 15 years.
• Bob Babcock, Helms and Assoc. updated the Board on the Biological
Assessment which is a part of the Environmental Assessment. He said it is in
draft form. He anticipated 2 weeks before the US Fish and Wildlife Services
receive the document. There will be public meetings with plenty of opportunity
for input. He added that the input must be associated with the environmental
assessment. Babcock said they are updating all estimates to get them up to
today’s costs. Babcock felt that Fish and Wildlife may not approve the EA if a
choice between alternatives has not been made first. If that happens, that
may possibly move up the timeline a couple of months. Riedesel asked if the
Topeka shiner has been seen in the area. Babcock said that makes no
difference as that is their habitat. Smidt asked for a time when the whole
process would be complete and a final decision could be made. Babcock
said there will be a series of public meetings and two council meetings for
discussion. Riedesel asked about updating costs and what that included.
Babcock said land sales, dirt work, and construction costs. The prior estimate
was 3 million to 11 million dollars. It will now be 4 million to 9 million which is a
large range. Babcock said that the Airport Board will also make a
recommendation to the City Council. Boulware asked if there were other issues
besides the shiner. Babcock said yes, some with the flood plain, but they are
not as significant. He said the off-site alternative is much cleaner. Riedesel said
he had checked statistics on bird strikes and felt the numbers were very low.
Wilson said many are not reported as pilots aren’t aware that they could be
reported. Patricia Dressler with the FAA agreed that the numbers were very low
and said that reporting is voluntary. She added that there is a significant
wildlife concern at the current airport. Babcock said if that alternative is
chosen, someone will need to be responsible for wildlife issues at the airport
forever! Schmidt asked Dressler if she knew what the time frame would be for
relocating. She said 18 – 24 months from when all the information is available.
Babcock said he hopes the Environmental Assessment can be finished this
year. Then they will move ahead with the Airport Layout Plan as approaches
need to be surveyed. Land acquisition could take place in 2010, and dirt work
could begin in 2012. There are too many hurdles at this time to get any
available stimulus money. Andy Becker with the SDDOT Aeronautics Office said
state dollars will be available. They need to see where this plan goes first. He
said state appropriations money would be available also. Boulware felt a
tentative date for a City Council decision could be by September 15, 2009.
Babcock said that would be only tentative as they do not want to rush the
meetings where people can give their input. Dressler said that the FAA or
SDDOT typically are not at the open house or public meetings. However, she
said they may attend the Council meeting when the final decision is made.
Tom Schauer asked what meeting the FAA should attend if they could attend
only one. Council members felt it should be the first council meeting where the
issue is discussed. Schauer said he looks forward to the day when Brookings
can make a decision. Becker said the Aeronautics Office would be available
for one meeting and would coordinate with the FAA. Dressler didn’t know if 2
public hearings on the Environmental Assessment and 2 public hearings on
non-environmental issues were necessary. She said meetings weren’t usually
divided by topic. City Manager Jeff Weldon said he believed that major
regional issues needed more than one meeting, and the City wants to follow
the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) regulations regarding those
meetings. Tom Schauer said that at the public hearings, testimony will be
heard. After 30 days, comments will be closed and no more comments can be
heard. All comments must all be recorded in the final document.
• Wilson has received a new plow truck for the airport. He said he had not
planned on needing a new truck for at least four years and therefore, had not
budgeted for it. He said he was able to secure a grant to help with the funding
for the truck.
• Wilson said Amendment #1and Amendment #2 were partially paid for from
the same grant. He added that he was able to secure entitlement and state
appropriation dollars. The Board congratulated Wilson on being able to find
and utilize the funding.
Item #6 – Old Business - Wilson reported on the Fuel Master upgrades. He said they
are in place now, but it doesn’t print a receipt when using a Smart Card. It does
have a data logger. Boulware asked if anyone used Smart Cards. Wilson said they
are issued by the FBO and some FBO employees have them.
Item #7 – Airport Manager’s Report – Wilson said they are doing lots of mowing at the
airport. He has had a request from an SDSU student, Jeremy Swier, to do an internship
at the Brookings Airport. Boulware said he could supply more intern candidates, but
Wilson said there is only work for one. An intern’s salary would be paid by Airport
Services. Wilson said he will be doing mowing, landscaping, and maintenance.
Item #8 – FBO Report – Randy Hanson said he had met with the Civil Air Patrol
because he wanted to find out about their program. He said they are very interested
in community. They would like to do a service project at the airport. Riedesel
suggested they could wash airplanes and receive a ride. Their leaders are SDSU
aviation pilots. Hanson said things are going well, and they are very good kids. Bailey
asked what age they were. Hanson said he believed the program started with 11 –
12 years olds, and many are older as they have been in the program for some years.
Hanson said they are looking for volunteers, and he is impressed with the group.
The meeting was adjourned.
___________________________ __________________________
Diane M. Spencer, Secretary Jeff Boulware, Chairperson