Airport Board Minutes

September 2005 

September 8, 2005

A meeting of the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport Board of Directors was held on Thursday, September 8, 2005, at 5:30 p.m. at the Auburn-Lewiston Airport, Conference Room, 80 Airport Drive, Auburn, Maine  04210.

Present:  Chairman Plourde; Messrs.  Lunt, Wolf and Ms. Finnigan and Rowell.

Absent:  Messrs. Metivier and Paradis.

Also Present:  Airport Manager, John McGonagill; Mark Haley (TCAS Attorney); Bill Welch (Airport Attorney).

Chairman Plourde called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m.    

ON MOTION BY MS. FINNIGAN SECONDED BY MR. LUNT IT WAS VOTED (1) TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 11, 2005 AND PLACE THEM ON FILE.

 VOTE:  5:0

TREASURER’S REPORT

Mr. Plourde reviewed the treasurer’s report with the board.

ON MOTION BY MS. FINNIGAN SECONDED BY MR. WOLF IT WAS VOTED (2) TO ACCEPT THE TREASURER’S REPORT AS PRESENTED.

 VOTE:  5:0

PARKING AND ITINERANT RAMP USE POLICY UPDATE AND REVIEW

In the Airport Rules and Regulations, section one, the airport manager is requesting under the section of the itinerant ramp, two lines to be added ”operated on a first come first serve basis and is intended to support daily transient aircraft operations.  The itinerant ramp is under control of the airport manager.” 

ON MOTION BY MS. FINNIGAN SECONDED BY MR. LUNT IT WAS VOTED (3) TO APPROVE THE CHANGE AS REQUESTED IN THE AIRPORT RULES AND REGULATIONS, UNDER SECTION ONE, ITINERANT AIRCRAFT. 

 VOTE:  5:0

In the Airport Rules and Regulations, section 5 – Operation of Motorized Equipment, the airport manager requested additional information be added to this section to explain in detail and tighten up vehicle access to the ramp, procedures, speed limits, increase gate card fees from $10 to $25 per card, and install fines to areas where no action had been taken in the past.  The board requested review from our attorney before approval.

MT. APATITE CELL TOWER

U.S. Cellular is back on the planning board for a tower on Mt. Apatite.  The location is currently outside of the airport’s imaginary surfaces if built at 119 feet or lower, (not a hazard to airport as airport is today).  The FAA stated that the new proposed height would not be a hazard to air navigation at the airport’s current configuration.  If the airport decides to expand the runway, it will be a hazard.  The Planning Board meeting is scheduled for September 13 and this tower will be approved with the addition of a light.  Chairman Plourde requested to submit a letter to the Planning Board from the Airport Board of Directors stating this tower will hinder airport growth in the future and is not recommended.

MASTER PLAN UPDATE

Rick Domas, project manager for Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, updated the board on the status of the master plan.  Aerial photogrammiatry (ground control survey data, developing contours), will be completed by the end of September, which is the basic building block for the airport master plan.  RKG Associates is on board for completing the economic analysis and development of the airport and comparables of other airports.  October 27, 2004 will be the first PAC meeting.  Information is posted on the airport web site under master plan.  (www.flytome.com)

INTERMODAL LEASE

Ms. Witte, representing the FAA, is waiting for a response in regards to the July 1994 land lease the airport has with the City of Auburn (Intermodal Facility).  Ms. Witte is asserting that revenues have been diverted from the airport and the land was not leased at fair market value.  Roland Miller, City of Auburn Economic Development Director, has drafted a letter explaining the built in costs and deferred taxes, and the risk the City of Auburn was taking.  Ms. Finnigan requested a meeting with the Airport Manager to review the draft letter early next week. 

AIRPORT AUDIT

The airport audit is currently on going and Ms. Tyson, of Runyon Kersteen & Ouellette, will be at the October meeting with the draft audit.

FEMA REIMBURSEMENT

The Airport has received confirmation of reimbursement for the road washout on Martindale estimated at $29,000.

SILVER WINGS UPDATE

Mr. Pohl updated the board and stated the official opening is November 1, 2005.  He invited the Airport Board to hold the November meeting in his hangar to view the improvements completed, the new parking area that was just paved with added tie downs for airport revenue, and the area the Airport Manager requested be paved at the last meeting and was directed to yellow stripe it for non aircraft use.  Mr. Pohl agrees with the Airport Manager, it should be paved even though it would be a non-revenue producing piece of ramp, he believes aircraft will cut across the area to go to his facility and doing so may damage their aircraft even though it is yellow striped.  After viewing the section at the November meeting, if the Board holds to its decision from the August Meeting, he stated he himself would have that area paved to prevent aircraft damage due the high volume of aircraft traffic expected.  Mr. Pohl also commended the airport staff associated with the paving project.  The paving contractor, Rampart, completed the paving within budget but due to the past hurricane, must have taken a loss on this project. 

The Airport Manager also commended the airport staff, K & K Excavation and Rampart Paving on keeping this project within budget.   

AUBURN FIRE INSPECTIONS

The Airport Manager took pictures of all the areas written up from the 2003 airport inspection with a spreadsheet and gave a copy of the CD to each board member and Mr. Simard, Auburn Fire Department, for review and to plan what the next step should be for bringing the airport into compliance. 

COLD STORAGE HANGAR #2 SIDING

The siding has been ordered and hangar #2 will finally be completely sided (one side of the hangar has been done yearly).  This project should be completed by the end of September with the CIP monies from FY04-05 in the budget.

LEW IDENTIFIER

The CAP (Civil Air Patrol) has done an excellent job painting the LEW identifier on the apron in front of the restaurant.  This was free labor for the airport in exchange to let them keep an aircraft on the airport when they get one based here.  They will also be painting the compass rose in the next few weeks and complete other tasks for the airport.

CROWELL PROPERTY

The tree clearing is approximately 50% finished.  They have asked for a burn permit and will be approved one with specific restrictions due to the aircraft in the area.

STORMWATER PERMIT

A seminar was held in the airport conference room with DEP and airport tenants.  Denis St. Peter, a Professional Engineer with CES, conducted the meeting to update the airport and tenants of the new rules associated with the storm water program.  Each commercial operator on the field will now be responsible for their own discharge and need to apply for a permit.  This seminar was to inform and explain the changes and what plans need to be established for their individual permits.

CROSSLEY OFFER

An offer was made on the Crossley property located by Christian Hill.  Details in Executive Session.

OPEN SESSION

Mr. Mark Haley, representing Twin Cities Air Service, was present tonight to present the position of TCAS with regard to several issues and concerns, with particular attention to areas in which the TCAS hangar requires upgrading.  Chairman Plourde thanked Mr. Haley for his presentation, and indicated that the issues presented would be taken under advisement by the Board.

Issues were raised concerning wildlife intrusion on the airfield, resulting in the shooting of a wild turkey by one of TCAS personnel.  The chain reiterated the permit requirement for mitigating wildlife intruding on the airfield.  The new policy will require airport employees only to be involved with bird mitigation/elimination.

Lastly, an issue regarding allegations that a member of the public was denied access to the FBO premises was aired, and Chairman Plourde agreed to hear the complaint in Executive Session. 

ON MOTION BY MR. LUNT, SECONDED BY MS. FINNIGAN IT WAS VOTED (4) TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND DISCUSS DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT, LEASE RESEARCH, AND THE AIRPORT MANAGER’S YEARLY REVIEW OF HIS CONTRACT.

VOTE:  5:0

ON MOTION BY MR. LUNT SECONDED BY MS. ROWELL IT WAS VOTED (5) TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8 P.M.

 VOTE:  5:0