MBS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMISSION

 

October 21, 2004

 

MINUTES

                                                                           

The meeting was held in the Airport Commission Board Room, 8600 Garfield Road, Freeland, Michigan 48623.  Chairman Eugene Gwizdala called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.  Roll was called by Debbie Meisel.

 

 

COMMISSIONERS

 

Present                                   Absent & Excused               Staff                                Other     

Patrick H. Beson                     Cecil A. Collins                    Jeff Nagel                        Louis Timm

Kenneth W. Distler                 Clay J. Dunn                        Ryan Riesinger                 Jeremiah Stettler 
Brian K. Elder                         Karl S. Tomion                    A. T. Lippert                   John Palen

Eugene F. Gwizdala                                                            Debbie Meisel                 Jack Duso

Wilmer-Jones Ham                                                                                                    Cheryl Wade

Hollis H. McKeag                                                                                                       

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 
 

MINUTES:  Dr. Distler made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Commission Meeting held on September 16, 2004.  Ms. Jones-Ham seconded the motion.  The motion was unanimously approved by the Board.

 

SEPTEMBER 2004 WARRANT REGISTER AND CASH & INVESTMENT SUMMARY:  Mr. Beson made a motion to approve the Warrant Registers for the September Payroll Account Check Numbers 81103-81185; September Operations and Maintenance Check Numbers 35027-35111, void check number 35069; and the September Cash and Investment Summary.  Mr. McKeag seconded the motion and the Board unanimously approved it.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:  None

 

AIRPORT SURPLUS EQUIPMENT SALE:  Mr. Nagel stated that over the years the airport has built up a surplus of equipment, parts and odds and ends that it no longer has a use for.  Periodically, the airport has held “garage sales” to try and clear out some of this equipment.  The airport maintenance supervisor has been preparing for another sale and has developed a list of items that the airport would like to dispose of.  None of the equipment was purchased with federal grant dollars, so there are no federal obligations to comply with.  Mr. Beson made a motion authorizing the sale of the listed surplus equipment at the best possible price.  Mr. Elder seconded and the motion unanimously carried.

 

TSA LEASE EXTENSION:  Mr. Nagel stated that in November of 2002, the TSA entered a lease agreement for office space, a break room area and training room.  The old bar area and the travel agency were modified to accommodate this lease.  The lease was for a two-year period which expires November 14, 2004.

 

The TSA has requested a 12-month extension of the existing lease during which time a longer lease extension can be negotiated.  The extension is for the same rate, $37.08 per square foot per year, and terms as the existing lease.  TSA has been a good tenant and there has been no other interest in leasing the space.  The lease contributes over $68,000 in annual income for the airport.

 

Mr. Nagel continued that the extension makes good sense, as it would lock in the TSA for at least twelve months with the intent to negotiate a long-term extension before next November.

 

Mr. McKeag made a motion to approve the TSA Supplemental Lease Agreement #2 for a 12-month extension and authorize the Chairman to execute the agreement.  Ms. Jones-Ham seconded and the Board unanimously passed the motion.

 

DONATION OF SNOW BLOWERS:  With the arrival of the two new snow blowers comes the decision to dispose of the current blowers.  Since these machines were originally purchased with federal grant dollars, MBS must continue to follow federal guidelines.  If the fair market value of the equipment is less than $5,000 per unit, they may be sold or may be disposed of providing FAA notification of the disposition with no further obligations.  If the equipment is worth over $5,000 per unit, there are additional FAA requirements to follow.  Staff has contacted the original manufacturer of the 1986 blowers and obtained a value of $4,900 for one unit and $3,900 for the second.  Basically, the only value these units have is based on spare parts, since parts are very difficult to obtain for these units.  The lower valued unit has drive train problems and has limited operational capacity.  These units have proven difficult to maintain and service, and with the two new blowers, there is no need to keep them.

 

Mr. Nagel continued that the best scenario would be for both blowers to go to the same airport, one to be used for moving snow and the other for spare parts.  Since the new blowers first appeared on the FAA Five-Year Plan, the manager at Harry Browne Airport has expressed an interest in obtaining both old blowers.  He has been to MBS to look at the blowers, and would be willing to maintain at least one blower.

 

As done in the past, both blowers could be donated to Harry Browne Airport with the stipulation that if needed, and if still operating, the airport could get the blowers back to MBS.  This process has been used in the past, most recently with a fire truck donated to Buena Vista Township.

 

Mr. McKeag made a motion authorizing the manager to donate the two 1986 Schmidt Snow Blowers to the Harry Browne Airport with the stipulation that if needed, MBS could reacquire the machines.  Mr. Beson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

2004 BUDGET ADJUSTMENT:  Mr. Nagel stated that the 2004 Operating Budget was developed without the two new snow plows listed as a Capital Expense.  This was done because the purchase order for these trucks was signed in December of 2003 and staff planned to carry this item as an accounts payable and not as a 2004 expense.  When the auditors were here in February, they advised staff that this could not be done since the trucks were not substantially complete.

 

Since the trucks have been delivered and MBS has been invoiced, staff must adjust the Capital Account accordingly.  Because these trucks were purchased with PFC dollars and not AIP money, the airport must pay the entire amount.  The cost of the two trucks is $614,744 and the money is available in the PFC account.  The Capital Account currently has approximately $950,000 but there are still some outstanding items such as the front-end loader, pickup truck, Trailblazer and the local share of AIP projects.  The Contingency Account has $800,000 available and Mr. Nagel recommended that $300,000 be moved from Contingency to Capital to cover the cost of these trucks.  Since the entire Capital Account is not anticipated to be spent, the full $614,744 does not need to be moved to cover the two plow trucks.


Mr. Nagel reported that the auditors were consulted and they agree with this recommendation.

 

Dr. Distler made a motion authorizing a 2004 Budget adjustment moving $300,000 from Contingency to Capital Expense.  Mr. McKeag seconded and the Board unanimously passed the motion.

 

SAGINAW COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT AGREEMENT:  Mr. Nagel reported that the current law enforcement agreement with the Saginaw County Sheriff Department expires on December 31, 2004.  In keeping with past practice, the department has proposed a three-year extension to this agreement.  A letter from Sheriff Charles Brown was included stating their interest in extending the contract and explaining some other services MBS has received over the years.  The cost for SCSD deputy services for 2004 is $238,011, plus overtime, and covers a deputy stationed at the airport sixteen hours per day.  The proposed cost covers the same hours as no new directive has been issued by the TSA requiring MBS to add coverage.

 

The proposed contract amounts are:

 

                                                Annual                          Per Month

                        2005                $266,988                        $22,249

                        2006                $282,780                        $23,565

                        2007                $300,132                        $25,011

 

Mr. Nagel stated that there are two main reasons for the increase in cost.  The first is that all County contracts must be kept as a separate account and all costs associated with the contract must be covered.  In the past, some of the costs came from the general fund within the Department.  That change is effective in 2005.  The second factor is the increase in cost associated with benefits for the deputies, in particular health care and a retiree reserve for health care.

 

It should be noted that these costs are as close as the Department can estimate as the contract with the union expires in 2005.  The airport’s cost will be adjusted to ensure MBS is only billed for the actual cost associated with performing the contract.  The Department does not charge MBS an  “administration charge” or markup on the contract.

 

Mr. Nagel also stated that the County does an excellent job performing this contract, and they go above and beyond the scope of the contract to assist MBS when there are security upgrades, special needs and during VIP visits.

 

Mr. Lippert has reviewed and approved the amendment.  Mr. Elder made a motion to approve the proposed amendment to the Saginaw County Sheriff Department Agreement and authorization for the Chairman to execute the agreement.  Mr. Beson seconded and the motion unanimously carried.  Discussion took place regarding the benefits of this service, including financial compared to having the airport’s own department.

 

FIVE-YEAR PLAN:  Mr. Nagel asked that the plan be brought to the November meeting.  After discussion with Bob Peckham, the airport engineer, the FAA at the District Office, and the State, Mr. Nagel stated that he is not prepared to present the Five-Year Plan as it was sent out.  Mr. Elder made a motion to defer the Five-Year Plan to the November meeting.  Ms. Jones-Ham seconded and the Board passed the motion unanimously.

 

OLD BUSINESS:  None

    

NEW BUSINESS:  None

 

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS:  Mr. McKeag remarked that September passenger count exceeded September of last year.

 

Next regular meeting is scheduled for November 18, 2004.

 

ADJOURNMENT:  There being no further business, Ms. Jones-Ham made a motion to adjourn.  Mr. Beson seconded and the Board unanimously passed the motion.  The meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m.

 

                                                                                                                                                            Hollis H. McKeag, Secretary