ASHLAND AIRPORT COMMISSION

February 5, 2008

MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT:              RICHARD HENDRICKSON, RUSS SILBIGER, LINCOLN ZEVE, DAVID WOLSKE, ALAN DEBOER, TOM BRADLEY,

STAFF:            DAWN LAMB

MEMBERS ABSENT:  BILL SKILLMAN, GOA LOBAUGH, BOB SKINNER, BRITTANY WISE

Visitors: 

1.                   CALL TO ORDER:                  9:30 AM

2.                   APPROVAL OF MINUTES:    December 8, 2007, minutes approved as written.

3.                   Public Forum:

4.       OLD BUSINESS:

A.                 Mead & Hunt Economic Impact Study –

            Lamb spoke with the consultant on the commercial flights recorded for the airport.  The commercial designation was used for passenger operations which the Ashland Airport does not cater too at this time.  The business flights that fly in and out of the airport are not considered commercial by this definition.

B.                 Noise Sensitive Area Map & SuperAWOS Advertisement Draft for Review

More details were worked out on the map.  Areas were identified showing the noise sensitive areas.  The commission asked for the railroad tracks to be a more visible delineation on the map as this is a visual clue to the pilots to orientate themselves on where the sensitive locations exist.  Lamb will make the editing changes and work with the GIS department on the map. 

C.                 Ben Lindner Development – Subcommittee meetings will be set up in the next month to start reviewing the lease options with the Legal department.  Lamb will be in contact.

D.                 Burl Brim Development – Subcommittee meetings will be set up in the next month to start reviewing the lease options with the Legal department.  Lamb will be in contact.

E.                  Strategic Plan Assignments

1.       Zoning ordinance – no update. 

4.     NEW BUSINESS: 

A.                 Solar Power

Can there be consideration of adding solar power panels on the hangars be discussed.  The reality and feasibility may not be worth the effort.  Larry Giardina with the Conservation Department may be the best to discuss the matter with.  DeBoer had looked into putting some panels on the Valley Investment hangars, but the situation did not seem to be that economically beneficial. 

B.                 Tom Bradley Resignation

            Bradley has decided to not apply for reappointment to the commission.  This will leave an empty space on the Commission in May.  If anyone knows of interested parties, they should contact the Mayor’s office.

C.                 Treg Scott – Hangar Construction Proposal

            Treg Scott is interested in building a single private hangar at the airport.  The areas available are larger than he is considering and the area adjacent to the new T-hangars may be a bit too much engineering to make work with the back wall.  Lamb will send a packet on hangar construction to Scott and look at the size of the remaining space at the end of the second row. 

D.                 AWOS Issues

            Recently the FAA has been examining the SuperAWOS systems and there is now internal dispute with the FAA about whether the systems should have been approved.  Skinner and Lamb have been in contract with FAA spokespersons negotiating with Potomac Aviation on the matter.  The Potomac Aviation company has a lot to lose if the FAA succeeds in overturning the original acceptance.  Skinner and Lamb will keep the commission apprised of the situation.  The FAA feel that the system should require more in-depth calibrations and annual FAA inspections.  Potomac has built the equipment to not require this much hands on calibration.  The system is nearly fully sustainable by satellite link.  The compromise thus far has been to not accept the altimeter settings until the FAA has inspected the equipment.  The cost of FAA inspections is quite high and would be a burden to the small airports that have benefited since the installation on their fields.  Lamb felt that the installation and purchase of the system was through an FAA grant, than the FAA should realize they are the responsible parties.  Potomac sold the equipment with the guarantee that the system was FAA acceptable and the burden on their reputation is keeping them motivated to settling this situation. 

            Action:  Zeve motioned to have a letter drafted to the FAA and ODA supporting the safety benefit of the SuperAWOS for Ashland.  The letter will be kept in draft format until Skinner returns and can add input into the language.  Seconded by Hendrickson, motion passed unanimously.

5.                 AIRPORT MANAGER REPORT/FBO REPORT/AIRPORT ASSOCIATION:

A.                 Status of Airport, Financial Report, Review of Safety Reports

Skinner was absent for the meeting. 

Need to consider the rental rates for the upcoming year.  Place budget on the next agenda.  The Skinner lease is being reviewed by the legal department along with the other leases. 

B.                 Maintenance Updates – Peters is working on the hangar numbers.

6.     OTHER:

The meeting of the JC airport commission is the third Monday of the month at 12:00 PM.

7.     NEXT MEETING DATE:  March 4, 2008, 9:30 AM

ADJOURN:  Meeting adjourned at 10:30 AM