HomeMy WebLinkAboutAirMinutes_2010_01_21S:\Cityhall\Bonnie\Citizen Advisory Boards\Airport Board\AirMinutes_2010_01_21.doc 1
Brookings Airport Board
Brookings, SD 57006
January 21, 2010
The Brookings Airport Board was called to order by Vice-chairperson Lynn
Riedesel on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 3:30 PM in the Auxiliary Room at City Hall.
Members present were Orv Smidt, Jim Bailey, Judy McLaughlin, and Riedesel. Jeff
Boulware was absent. Also present were Randy Hansen and Paul Hanusa - Pheasant’s
Fury Aviation, Rob Hanson, and Airport Manager Mike Wilson.
Item #2 – (Smidt/Bailey) Motion to approve the minutes from the December 17, 2009
meeting after amending the attendance to list Judy McLaughlin as absent. All
present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED.
Item #3 – (McLaughlin/Smidt) Motion to approve the amended agenda to include
Item 9d. discussion on a change in meeting time. All present voted aye. MOTION
CARRIED.
Item #4 – The next meeting will be held on February 18, in the City Hall meeting room
at a time to be determined at the end of this meeting.
Old Business
Item #5 – Snow removal operations - Airport Manager Mike Wilson reported that the
airport crew has had their share of snow removal this year. He added that he felt the
crew kept up well with the conditions they have been dealing with. He said he closed
the airport once with one-hour prior permission. He did ask that snow not be piled
close to the hangars as it is difficult to remove. It can be placed on the taxiway, and
a call should then be made to airport staff to let them know that it is there and needs
to be removed. Riedesel said he has been to many small airports this winter, and the
Brookings Airport looks better than most. Randy Hanson – Pheasant’s Fury, said that
Paul Hanusa had done an excellent job of snow removal also. Wilson said with the
cold weather, they did get a crack in the plow truck fender. Hanson asked who
cleans the area by the pumps where the trucks go. Wilson said Pheasant’s Fury does
the cleaning of the pads. Wilson said he will get the area up to the asphalt lip. Wilson
told Hanson that if he needs sand, he should call Wilson, and he will get it for him.
Wilson added that he may need to redo the lease regarding snow removal at
Pheasant’s Fury as conditions have changed since the lease was written. Wilson said
he has a new blade on the pay loader. The Street Department did some welding to
make the blade float. He said they did an excellent job. Riedesel asked how many of
the airport snow removal vehicles are housed in the garage. Wilson said only the
snow plow, and with a new building, all could be housed inside.
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Item #6 – Hangar Inspections – Wilson said he has inspected the final three hangars
that were missed during the first inspection. He has received only one of the
requested return letters showing that al discrepancies have been corrected. He will
resend the letters and plan for another inspection on February 3, 2010.
Item #7 – Update of the Environmental Assessment by Bob Babcock (Helms & Assoc.)
– Babcock said they are waiting for the response from the State Historic Preservation
Office (SHPO) and expect a sign-off from them any day. SHPO requested some
additional minor information (a resume´ of an archeologist and a map showing areas
of on-site surveys) which Helms provided. The Environmental Justice section of the EA
did not have enough information, but that section has also been corrected, the Corp
of Engineers had two items to clarify (permits in the “no rise” section and filling in the
floodway during construction). Babcock said the document will go to Legal Review
when the information from SHPO is incorporated into it. He said they may have some
minor items they want changed. Then the process can proceed to the public
meetings. He added that the Environmental Assessment is definitely a big part of
what is going to happen with the airport in Brookings. The off-site alternative is
environmentally cleaner, but the on-site alternative is less expensive. Both Wilson and
Babcock said they were told that it is very normal for the EA process to take this long.
Wilson said he would have liked to know that in the beginning when they were doing
the timelines so he could have allowed for the extra time. Babcock said that he felt
the City of Brookings had benefitted by the delays as they have received funding for
projects such as the fence during this past year and additional funding for the EA.
Babcock added that any project using federal dollars must be on the Airport Layout
Plan. Smidt asked Babcock who would do the Airport Layout Plan. Babcock said
Helms will do it for whichever site is chosen. Smidt asked about the changes to the
navigation systems if the on-site alternative is chosen. Babcock said there would be
changes. Babcock said he feels Brookings will have an excellent Environmental
Assessment when it is finished. He also asked that he be included on the agenda
each month as this process progresses so he can keep the Board apprised of what is
continuing the to place regarding the airport.
New Business
Item #8 – Airports Conference – Wilson referred to the information in the packets
regarding the 2010 Airports Conference. This year, it is in Deadwood, South Dakota
beginning at 10:00 on Wednesday, March 31st and closing at noon on Thursday, April
1st. Wilson said there would be a separate meeting for the Brookings Airport on
Tuesday, March 30th. He will let interested parties know of that meeting time. Riedesel
encouraged board members to attend. He said he felt it was a very worthwhile
conference. Wilson asked members to call the secretary if they plan to attend. She
will make the conference and motel reservations for each member.
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Item #9 – Airport Manager’s Report –
a. Wilson said there has been an ongoing issue with the REILS on the crosswind
runway. He told the Board that he is working on fixing that issue.
b. Wilson explained that the hangar land lease billing was done this past week.
Hangar owners should be receiving their bill in the mail. He added that the rate
per square foot did not increase for the coming year.
c. Wilson said the gate card reader is working sporadically. He does not want to put
any more dollars into it now. He is lending out the remote clickers instead of gate
cards to people that need access to the airport.
Boulware - now in attendance.
Babcock said there is an advantage in using the cards as they can be
programmed from a computer. Admittance with the cards can be individually
controlled through the computer, and a user can be deleted if necessary. A new
card system will be installed on the new gate during this year’s fence project.
d. The monthly meeting time was discussed. Boulware said he is not able to attend
the 3:30 meetings this semester as he is scheduled to teach a class. Riedesel
suggested meeting at 1:00. Wilson suggested 5:00 as that enables working
people to attend a meeting if they choose. After a discussion, it was decided to
meet at 4:30 for the February, March, and April meetings. After that, the meeting
time will be reviewed again.
Item #10 – FBO Report – Hanson stated that the weather has been hard on his
business. He said he has a new Cessna 303 airplane in his hangar. He is also hangaring
a plane for the Civil Air Patrol. Wilson asked for the tail numbers of both planes.
Hanusa commended the snow removal crew.
Smidt asked about the Pitts property. Wilson said the city has purchased the
property and has advertised it for rent. Smidt asked where the funds from the rental
property will go. Wilson said they will go back into the airport budget.
Boulware said SDSU is changing airplanes, but the weather is keeping things
from moving ahead. He added that flying is difficult with the present weather.
The meeting was adjourned.
____________________________ ______________________________
Diane M. Spencer, Secretary Lynn Riedesel, Vice-chairperson