Morehead-Rowan County Airport Board Minutes
March 31, 2016
Chairman Tim James called the meeting to order at 6:03 PM in the Terminal Building Conference Room at the Morehead-Rowan County Regional Airport. Other members present were Tom Fossett, Mike Gray, Bruce Mattingly, Aaron Roberts, Jim LeMaster, Charles Derrickson, and Porter Dailey. Harry Clark and Ron Oliver were absent. Guests present include Tracey Potter – FBO; Wes Mittlesteadt – Garver; Earl Rogers – Attorney; and Barbara Marsh – Assistant Secretary-Treasurer.
Mr. James presented the Minutes of the February 2016 Meeting. The motion to accept the February 25, 2016 Minutes was made by Dr. Fossett, seconded by Dr. Derrickson, and approved unanimously.
Dr. Mattingly presented the February Financials. The report included profit and loss documents for February and for the fiscal year (July-February 2016). The motion to accept the February Financial Report was made by Mr. Gray, seconded by Mr. LeMaster, and unanimously approved.
REPORTS
- FBO. Ms. Potter reported on current fuel sales, grounds maintenance, and hangar activities.
- Fuel sales were 759 gallons of 100LL and 1124 gallons of JETA fuel.
- Replacement bulbs were installed on 13 runway lights. There are other lights which need transformers or repaired.
- A warranty bulb for the community hangar ceiling fixture was received. A lift is needed to get it installed. Mr. Dailey suggested that loose insulation should also be fixed when we have the lift available.
- New weatherproof outdoor fixtures with bulbs were ordered for the original T-Hangars. Ten fixtures were ordered with LED bulbs. Fleming-Mason Energy reported that these will qualify for energy credits. The 10 fixtures with bulbs are dusk to dawn and cost $179 each.
- Fleming Mason Energy visited to review needs for new security lights. While at the airport, the technician also repaired two existing security lights that had worked intermittently. The representative suggested the addition of two new security lights. #1 would be at the corner of the terminal building and would face the t-hangars and ramp. The other fixture would face the fuel farm. The cost is $350 per pole and $250 per fixture. Two fixtures are needed per pole. The total cost is $1700. The monthly cost is estimated to be $10 per month per fixture or $40 extra per month. Concern was expressed that the proposed lighting may project to the runway and interfere with night vision during take-offs and landings. Mr. Mittlesteadt suggested that a photometric plan be requested from Fleming Mason Energy. It may be necessary to add shields or hoods to direct lighting away from the runway. No action was taken on the additional security lighting pending the photometric plan.
- The monthly Pancake and Sausage Breakfast will be on April 3.
- GARVER. Wes Mittlesteadt, Professional Engineer.
2015 Emergency Runway/Taxiway Project. With the weather improving, a re-start meeting will be held on April 26, 2016, at 1pm with the contractor, ASL Excavating of Flemingsburg.
KDA Funding. The Kentucky House of Representatives deleted Governor Bevin’s proposed $10,000,000 from the road fund which was designated for aviation. It may be that the funding level will be at the levels during the last two years which was $6-8,000,000.
FAA. The long-term bill from the federal government has not been announced. It is due by July 15 so we do not know the amounts which will be available.
New Deputy Commissioner. The Kentucky Department of Aviation’s new deputy commissioner is Todd Bloch. Among other duties, he will oversee the UAVs. The KDA has become the state’s clearing house for state purchased UAVs.
Trench Drain. Our FAA Program Manager Chastity Clark has been transferred to the Orlando FL district. Our new Program Manager is James Williams, who was previously in this post. Mr. Mittlesteadt suggested a teleconference with Mr. Williams with members of the Board to re-introduce himself. Mr. Mittlesteadt will ask Mr. Williams for a teleconference for the week of April 10. There are several hurdles with trench drain repair project which the Board and Garver will work through.
- We will still have to do a forensic study.
- PCN – Pavement Condition Number. The FAA has to report PCN for all airports which is the pavement strength. There are two ways to determine PCN: “technical” method and “using” method. The “using” method is the method which we will hope to receive permission to use.
- Pavement Management & Maintenance Plan. This will incorporate the pavement condition data that came from the KDA funded study in 2014 and will cover all pavements on our airfield.
We may not get all the funding this year necessary for project completion but hope to get sufficient funds for the environmental assessment and project design.
State- wide Airport Approach Obstruction Study. This is a state funded project and the consultant team includes Quantum Spatial and Garver. Quantum will survey the approaches and identify current obstacles and near future obstacles which are within 10 feet from the surface. We will get a report with a CD of existing conditions. We are atypical of airports in that we have very few, if any, approach obstacles.
The Kentucky Statewide Aviation Plan. The CDM Smith team with Stantec and Connico being members of that team have sent an Airport Inventory and Data Survey as part of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Statewide Aviation System Plan. It is important that we not only complete this survey for use of this statewide initiative, but that we also update and confirm/review our FAA 5010 inspection report as it will be used in conjunction with the survey. Mr. Mittlesteadt reviewed the survey questions with the Board and highlighted areas where additional information was needed. The Executive committee along with the Buildings and Grounds committee and the FBO will meet to complete and finalize the document. Other items needed to complete the survey include project bid tabulations for the past three years, our Best Management Plan (BMP); Spill Protection Prevention Control and Counter Measure Plan (SPCC); and EPA Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). The Environmental Contact Person should be available also. It is important to have training records well maintained and all documents publicly available in the terminal building. The final reports will assist with economic development and help promote aviation in Kentucky, as well as be used as a self-study tool for airport managers.
General Aviation Info. The Kentucky Aviation Annual Conference will be held in Owensboro on September 28-30, 2016. Proposals to be a featured airport are due April 1, 2016, but interest has not been overwhelming at this point. The proposal could include any exciting happenings at the Airport and ways the Airport is helping the community.
April 28, 2016 Board Meeting. Mr. Mittlesteadt will not attend the meeting but will have one of his staff available if needed.
- Buildings & Grounds. Dr. Derrickson and Mr. Oliver, Co-Chairman.
- Communications and Security. Mr. Roberts, Chairman.
Dr. Derrickson reported that the committee had not been able to meet due to illness. The porch project for the doublewide mobile home is on hold and there have been no commitments with labor or materials.
Another cell tower is to be located in Clearfield with a height of 952’ msl. The height and location should not have any impact on airport traffic.
OLD BUSINESS
Airport Parking Policy. Mr. James has received a written exemption request for trailer parking from Mr. Samuell and a verbal request from Mr. LeQuire. The Board extensively discussed Mr. Samuels request in the context of both airport and customer needs. Currently, there are no available off-ramp locations suitable for long-term parking of trailers. On a motion by Dr. Fossett with a second by Mr. Roberts, the Board voted to provide all tenants with a 60 days exemption from the current parking policy. Mr. Samuels will be allowed to continue to park his trailer in a space designated by the FBO. During this time, the Building and Grounds committee will determine whether there is suitable space within the fence to create a trailer parking lot, and the costs associated with creating the lot (e.g., excavation, gravel, fencing, etc.). If suitable space is identified, then the Board will consider developing. However, any costs occurred in creating such lot will have to be partially offset with appropriate parking fees.
NEW BUSINESS
FBO Contract Review. Ms. Potter indicated that Mike Potter had accepted a position as Manager of the Vermilion County Airport near Danville, IL. The employees are considered state employees. The Airport has an FBO and 4 total employees. It is his hometown and the benefits offered include retirement. Ms. Potter indicated Mr. Potter would be home (Morehead) on the weekends (Friday-Saturday-Sunday) and would continue to offer airplane maintenance in Morehead. Ms. Potter will finish the current contract which ends on September 1, 2016. She would like to renew the contract for another year. She said there may be times when neither she nor Mr. Potter would at the Airport, but their son Hunter, is being hired as a line boy for 40 hours a week to help at the Airport for mowing, fuel assistance, and general grounds maintenance. Flight instruction will be curtailed, but she indicated Tim Clayton will offer some instruction. Ms. Potter will continue to offer annual airplane maintenance. Given the change in circumstances, on a motion by Dr. Derrickson, seconded by Mr. LeMaster, the Board voted unanimously to provide notice of contract non-renewal for Midwest Aviation as of September 1, 2016. In the meantime, the Board agreed with Ms. Potter’s plan to operate the airport in Mr. Potter’s absence. The Board was generally complimentary of Midwest Aviation’s management of the airport, and invited Ms. Potter to submit a new proposal for airport management to the Board at the April meeting. At the same time, the Board agreed to consider any and all other options for airport management presented to the Board.
Rowan County Christmas 5K Run/Walk – 25 June 2016. Kelli Barhorst requested permission to hold a Christmas run on the Airport road. She was directed by Mr. James to request permission from Rowan County Judge-Executive Blevins for permission on the road. The Airport has no objection.
Rowan County Unite Run – 21 May 2016. Mr. James also received a request from the Unite organization. They were directed to Dr. Blevins as this would be outside the fence also.
ADJOURNMENT