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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAirMinutes_2012_01_19C:\Documents and Settings\lcarruthers\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\5ZLTOVMI\01.docx 1 Brookings Regional Airport Board Brookings, SD 57006 January 19, 2012 The Brookings Airport Board was called to order by Chairperson Jeff Boulware on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 4:30 PM in the Meeting Room located on the first floor of City Hall. Members present were Jim Bailey, Judy McLaughlin, Lynn Riedesel, Orv Smidt, and Boulware. Also present were Randy Hanson and Paul Hanusa - Pheasants Fury FBO, Wayne Kelm – SDSU Aeronautics, Bob Babcock - Helms & Associates, City Engineer Jackie Lanning, and Airport Manager Philip Tiedeman. Item #2 – (McLaughlin/Bailey) Motion to approve the minutes from the December 15, 2011, meeting. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED. Item #3 – (Smidt/Riedesel) Motion to approve the agenda. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED. Item #4 – The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 16, 2012. Old Business Item #5 – Update on the Environmental and Biological Assessments – Airport Manager Philip Tiedeman reported that the Environmental and Biological Assessments were finished and available on-line. Copies are also available to view at City Hall, the Airport, the Brookings Public Library, the SD Dept. of Transportation, and the FAA. Helms consultant Bob Babcock said the Administrative Record is being compiled. It contains all correspondence, newspaper articles, and any paperwork having to do with the project. After the Administrative Record is complete, there will be no more comments accepted. After a 30-day period, the Administrative Record is considered complete and finished. Then the FAA will issue the FONSI ROD (Findings of No Significant Impact Record of Decision). At this point, if there is contesting, it goes through the FAA and the City of Brookings. Babcock distributed copies of a draft of the newest Airport Layout Plan for Brookings. He pointed out different areas to the Board. These areas would be the hangar BI and BII areas, potential areas for growth, a possible taxi lane south of the ARFF building, and potential hangar area for sprayer planes. Babcock asked the board members for their input also. Riedesel suggested run-up areas. Babcock said they are calling them turn-arounds, and they will be included. Wayne Kelm from SDSU Aeronautics suggested more area for tie-downs on the C:\Documents and Settings\lcarruthers\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\5ZLTOVMI\01.docx 2 ramps as they fill up quickly. He also asked about an increased parking area. The area next to the sidewalk, near the parking lot, that goes to the road could be paved. It would give about five more parking spaces. Lanning said that it is city owned. Babcock said he would make notes on those comments, and if they had any more potential changes or ideas, he asked them to give those comments to Tiedeman within the next week so they could possibly be incorporated into the ALP which will go to the FAA the following week. Tiedeman said he will pass additional comments on to Babcock. Babcock reminded the board that there must be 65.5 feet from the centerline as the taxiway object free area. McLaughlin asked about the hangar area and when new spaces would be made available. Babcock said one or two could be made available now if someone were interested. But currently, the focus in on fixing the runway. He added that the hangar work and ramp plug-ins etc. could also be installed with entitlement funds at a later date. Babcock had a handout on VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range) future plans by the FAA. He said that the FAA is not supporting them in the future. However, if a city pays for the VOR, they can keep it. The FAA is phasing them out by 2020. Riedesel asked about the BKX VOR. Babcock said that the VOR will most likely be removed and the ILS will remain at the airport, but he has heard that Fargo and Watertown are losing theirs. Babcock said Phase 1of construction at the airport will include the following: Brookings Municipal Utility basin relocation Creek re-routing Land purchases Wetland mitigation Babcock said all work will stop short of the ILS so the ILS will stay intact on 12/30. The ILS will be available during construction. Babcock added that they will have a sub-consultant working with the ILS. Helms will not do that work. Babcock stated that there has been a slight change in State funding. They had planned to issue 3 million dollars to Brookings over a three-year period. But instead of 1 million dollars each year, they will issue 1 million dollars the first year and 2 million dollars the second year. This may affect the City when matching funds are required. Boulware stated that the runway will go from 5,231 feet to 6,000 feet. He asked is there would ever be a chance to lengthen it again. Babcock said no as the railroad tracks are the issue, and they cannot be moved. C:\Documents and Settings\lcarruthers\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\5ZLTOVMI\01.docx 3 Riedesel asked if there would be a possibility of having a grass strip for glider use. Tiedeman said no, he does not want a grass glider strip on the airport. He said the FAA regulations are very strict on that issue. The city would be responsible for maintaining it, and bumps and dips are a huge liability concern for such a small staff. Bailey expressed his thanks, on behalf of the Brookings Airport Board, to Babcock for all the work he has done for Brookings and for keeping the board informed on the issues at hand. Item #6 – Snow and Ice Control – Tiedeman said snow removal has been easy so far. They have had three snow events since the last meeting and no major issues. Item #7 – Pheasants Fury/SDSU Move – Randy Hanson said they are looking for approval from the Airport Board to move forward with their lease transfer. Hanson asked if there would be new terms in the lease or if the existing terms would be used and just transferred to SDSU. He said he had a 20 year lease, but he has used four (4) of those years. Boulware said SDSU would like as many years as possible. Tiedeman said the most the FAA usually allows is 20 years. Bailey asked how the transfer would effect taxes. Lanning said she wasn’t sure. (Riedesel/Smidt) Made a motion to approve the lease transfer from Pheasants Fury to SDSU. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED. City Engineer Jackie Lanning said the issue would now move to the City Council with the Airport Board recommendation. Hanson said they expec t the transfer to take place at the end of February 2012. Lanning said it would go to the City Council on February 28th. Hanson asked if there would be anything else from the City that needed to be considered for the move. Lanning didn’t think so. New Business Item #8 – Approval of the 2011 Annual Report – The annual report had been previously sent to the board members. A few minor changes were made. (Smidt/McLaughlin) Motion to approve the 2011 Annual Report with the recommended changes. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED. Item #9 – Annual SD Airport Conference – The annual meeting will be held in Deadwood, SD, from March 12 – 14, 2012. Tiedeman said that all board C:\Documents and Settings\lcarruthers\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\5ZLTOVMI\01.docx 4 members are welcome to attend. The City will pay registration and motel accommodations. He asked members to notify secretary, Diane Spencer, by Thursday, February 2nd if they will be attending, and she will make all arrangements. Smidt asked if it is still important to attend now that the construction project is in progress. Boulware said it is always good to show a presence for Brookings. Boulware said he planned to attend. Item #10 – Airport Manager’s Report a. ARFF/SRE Addition – Tiedeman said the heated building is now completed and being used. It is heated. Lanning said Clark Drew Construction did an excellent job on the project. Tiedeman said with the bigger door, most of the equipment can fit inside. He will give a tour to anyone that wants to see the new building if they stop by his office. b. Ground Communications Outlet (GCO) – Tiedeman said the City Council has approved the GCO. The airport m ust provide a phone line, installation, and maintenance. With the GCO, pilots can now communicate with Minneapolis service. c. Tiedeman announced that BEM/MIT will be doing radar wind interference testing for one month. If they choose Brookings as the site to do the testing, there could be various aircraft here in the summer. Hanson said Pheasants Fury will give a fuel discount and services would also be available. He said he would like to encourage them to come to Brookings. Hanusa said tow pilots could be made available. He added that the testing could be done at the end of April. Tiedeman said it would definitely benefit the airport, and he hoped it would work out for Brookings. He will keep the Board posted. d. GSAXcess System (Surplus Property) – Tiedeman said the airport has been approved to access the surplus property. Boom trucks, deicing equipment, etc. could be made available as previously requested by Pheasants Fury. If any such equipment becomes available, Tiedeman will keep the Board informed. He added that there is no cost for the equipment, but travel or shipping costs must be paid to get the equipment here. e. Airport Statistics 2011 – Tiedeman had prepared a packet of airport statistics for the Board that included information on transient and SDSU C:\Documents and Settings\lcarruthers\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\5ZLTOVMI\01.docx 5 landings and operations at the airport during 2011. Other information and definitions were also included. It was suggested to forward this information on to the City Council so they would be able to see the number of operations per year at the Brookings Regional Airport. Lanning said she will give the packet to the department heads at their weekly meeting. Item #11 – FBO Report – Hanson reported that the hangar he will move into is getting some major updates. It has been sealed, insulated, received tin lining, has two natural gas heaters, and overhead fans. He said his door opening is 49’ 6” and 12’ 2” high. He said he may bring water to the site and added that the blue hangar may also be heated. Hanson said there is a possibility that he may have a person interested in providing charter service and would be based in Brookings. He asked the Board to give him feedback on any potential users. The plane is an eight passenger Cessna 414. Hanusa said he has had issues with the dispensers on the fuel tank. He said a “delay” was installed, and it may help as the computer was off about 1/10 of a gallon. Hopefully, that will fix the problem. Boulware asked Hanusa how much self-serve fuel business was done at the airport. Hanusa said about 5% of the sales. Bailey said Pheasants Fury provided a stabilized operation, and they are a big asset to the airport. He thanked Hanson and Hanusa for their service. Item #12 – Other Items – Tiedeman said the Air Race Classic is accepting teams at the present time. The route this year included Watertown, and Brookings is a possible alternate because of weather. The race is from June 19 – 22, 2012. Tiedeman said Brookings is included in the route in 2013 unless the construction would make that impossible. Then they would most likely be included in 2014. Tiedeman said the walk thru gate and the vehicle gates have repeatedly been left open, especially the fuel farm gate. He asked the Board to please let people know that they must be kept closed. Hanson said he has had contractors on the airport during his remodeling construction. He said he would mention the gate issue to them. It was mentioned that an ice house was sitting behind the Sheldon hangar. It is a red fishing house sitting on a trailer. Lanning said she will check to see if it is on the city’s right-of-way. The meeting was adjourned. C:\Documents and Settings\lcarruthers\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\5ZLTOVMI\01.docx 6 ___________________________ __________________________ Diane M. Spencer, Secretary Jeff Boulware, Chairperson