HomeMy WebLinkAboutAirMinutes_2010_02_18S:\Cityhall\Bonnie\Citizen Advisory Boards\Airport Board\AirMinutes_2010_02_18.doc 1
Brookings Airport Board
Brookings, SD 57006
February 18, 2010
The Brookings Airport Board was called to order by Chairperson Jeff
Boulware on Thursday, January 21, 2010, at 3:30 PM in the first floor Meeting Room
at City Hall. Members present were Lynn Riedesel, Orv Smidt, Jim Bailey, Judy
McLaughlin, and Boulware. Also present were Randy Hanson and Paul Hanusa -
Pheasant’s Fury Aviation, Bob Babcock - Helms & Associates, Duane Bymers,
Brenda Perez, and Airport Manager Mike Wilson.
Item #2 – (Riedesel/Bailey) Motion to approve the minutes from the January 21,
2010, meeting. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED.
Item #3 – (Smidt/ McLaughlin) Motion to approve the agenda. All present voted
aye. MOTION CARRIED.
Item #4 – The next meeting will be held on March 18, 2010, at 4:30 PM in the City
Hall meeting room.
Old Business
Item #5 – Snow Removal Operations – Airport Manager Mike Wilson reported that
snow removal operations have gone very well. He requested that the SDSU
students use the crosswind runway when the crew is blowing snow. Boulware
asked Wilson if he could put out a NOTAM to that effect when necessary. That
would force the students to check for them. Boulware asked how the snow
removal equipment was holding up. Wilson said the cutting edges were gone on
the plow truck, and he is ordering replacements. He said the old converted blade
used on the pay loader is working very well and is used by Maintenance
Technician Jeremy Scott. Boulware and Riedesel said they have been very
impressed with the conditions of the runways.
Item #6 – SD Airports Conference – Wilson asked members to let the secretary
know of their intentions to attend the Airports Conference. Boulware, Riedesel,
McLaughlin, and Smidt said they were planning to attend. City Engineer Jackie
Lanning, and City Council members Mike Bartley and Tom Bezdichek, and Wilson
are also attending. The conference begins at 10:00 AM on March 31st. Bob
Babcock, Helms & Associates, stressed the importance of being there for the
meeting regarding Brookings prior to the conference. All members said they would
like to attend that meeting also and will make arrangements to do so.
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Item #7 – Update on the Environmental Assessment (EA) – Bob Babcock – Babcock
said it has been almost 60 days since the paperwork was turned in to the State
Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). He said SHPO had concurred on the on-site
alternative but had not done so on the off-site alternative. SHPO said they needed
more survey work done for the off-site alternative. Babcock said they will be
reminded that the archeological survey crew was not able to get on to some
properties in January 2009. Therefore he believed that enough survey work had
been done and that they wouldn’t need to do anymore. Babcock said that
Brookings could say that they will do the necessary additional study if the off-site
alternative is chosen. If the on-site alternative is chosen, Babcock said a Section 7 -
Biological Study will need to be done. Therefore, regardless of the site that is
chosen, another study will need to be done. He said that planning for the public
meetings can begin during the 60 days that follow the approval. Babcock said he
hoped to have answers by the March 18th Airport Board Meeting so planning
could begin on the public meetings. Boulware asked for a timeline after the EA is
approved. Babcock said there would need to be comments from the FAA legal
department. He expects some small changes will need to be made but nothing
too drastic. The next step would be to advertize for 30 days. Then the open house/s
would follow having one in the evening and one in the day time to
accommodate as many people as possible. Wilson added that at this time, the EA
would be on the city’s website, and copies would be made available to the
public. After the EA has been approved, there is a 45 day comment period,
anytime after 30 days in that comment period the City can hold the official EA
hearing. There will be one formal hearing with the City Council. Comments will be
taken at that time. All comments must be answered or discarded due to
relevance before the draft EA is finalized..
New Business
Item #8 – Wildlife Fence – Wilson said Helms & Associates have been doing the
surveying for the new wildlife fence to surround the airport. He said he is collecting
information for the grant. He added that the FAA has said that the possibility of
moving the present airport is not an excuse for not having a proper fence, and
they will provide a grant for it. Babcock said he wants to have all the plans done
and everything ready when the FAA announces that funding is available. Wilson
said there will also be all new gates with the construction of the fence. The general
aviation gate will be moved farther away from the street so vehicles are not
protruding into the street. There will also be one gate in the ADVANCE parking lot.
The gate west of the terminal will be used for bigger equipment. Babcock said
locks will be put on all gates, and it can be set up for either cards or remotes.
Wilson said he favored cards for control purposes. If remotes were used, new ones
would have to be purchased as the present ones could not be reused. Babcock
said usually 10 remotes are issued and 100 cards. Wilson said he would prefer
proximity cards and not insert type cards. McLaughlin said it would be preferable if
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the system could keep a log for security purposes. Wilson said there are a few
issues to work out including the areas close to the National Guard’s building and
the city’s tree farm.
Airport Manager’s Report –
a. Hangar Inspections – Wilson said he has issued some certificates for
successful hangar inspections. He said any hangar owner can call him
anytime, and he will do a hangar inspection and issue a certificate if the
hangar passes inspection.
b. Student Intern – Wilson introduced Brenda Perez. She is an intern from
SDSU working with Wilson. She is a junior in the Aviation Management
program.
c. Rental House – Wilson said the house on the former Randy Pitts property
and now owned by the City has been rented with an occupancy date
of February 24, 2010. He said he has changed the locks and removed the
hot tub.
Wilson said he was informed by Brady Klocker from SDSU of the “wheel-up”
landing incident at the airport on February 11. He said no runway repairs will be
necessary, and the City will not pursue any claims on the incident. Boulware said
that SDSU is in the process of repairing this airplane and they are also getting a
new plane with a G1000 in the near future.
Wilson said Brookings is still illegible for Essential Air Service funding through
September 30, 2010. He added that it is short term again, and the Department of
Transportation does not want to go through the bidding process for that length of
time. Wilson heard there should be some movement by mid March on the FAA
reauthorization.
Wilson said that the aviation fraternity, Alpha Eta Rho, is planning a fly-in
pancake breakfast. They would like to have it from 7:00 AM to noon on April 10th.
They would like to get 300 people to attend. They are planning a spot landing
competition and a presentation by Garmin. They would like the Airport Board’s
approval. Wilson said they are available to do a presentation at next month’s
board meeting and would like to be on the agenda. Hanson told Boulware that
Pheasant’s Fury would like to be part of the fly-in. He would like to offer the use of
his building and possibly a gas reduction for pilots. Boulware said planning and
carrying out the fly-in is a great way for his students to use their educational
management skills.
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Item #10 – FBO Report - Hanson asked if the 10-foot high wildlife fence would be
that high around the entire airport. Wilson said yes. Babcock added that it will be
chain link around the high traffic areas including the FBO. In the other areas it
would be eight foot wildlife fence with two feet of high tensile wire above that.
Hanson asked if the east gate would stay where it is. Wilson said yes, with a
key pad. Hanson requested three remotes for Pheasant’s Fury.
Boulware asked Paul Hanusa how the fuel system was working. Hanusa said
it is working well. He added that there has not been much condensation in the
fuel. Hanusa said that fuel sales have been slow, but they have had some very
nice customers coming in. Hanusa said they keep a record of the aviation traffic.
Boulware felt it would be a very good idea to take those traffic numbers to the
Airports Conference. Boulware said he can get the number of operations per year
for SDSU for the past three years. Babcock said the charts in the Environmental
Assessment would also be available to show. Hanson said he has previously given
Al Heuton data for the Economic Development Center regarding aviation in
Brookings. He said he could provide the same information to the Airport Board
members to take to the conference. Boulware agreed that anything that shows
the utilization of the Brookings airport should be presented.
Hanson asked Wilson if it would be possible for the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) to
use the old airport terminal for their Thursday night meetings as they are growing
out of the space that he has provided for them. Wilson said that at the present
time, the building is torn apart for remodeling and not available for use. Hanson
said they have a good program and would probably be willing to do a short
presentation for the Airport Board. Wilson told Hanson to have them contact him,
and he will see that they get on the agenda.
The meeting was adjourned.
___________________________ __________________________
Diane M. Spencer, Secretary Jeff Boulware, Chairperson