MBS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMISSION
January 15, 2009
MINUTES
The
meeting was held in the Airport Commission Board Room,
Present Absent &
Excused Staff Other
Ernie
Krygier Wilma
Kasten, Citizen
Jon Lynch Guest
MINUTES: Mr. Gwizdala made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Commission Meeting held on December 18, 2008. Mr. Krygier seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved by the Board.
DECEMBER 2008 WARRANTS AND CASH & INVESTMENT SUMMARIES: Mr. Gwizdala made a motion to approve the Warrant Registers for the December Payroll Account Check Numbers 84331-84422, void checks #84332, 84366,84368, 84371, and 84372; the December Operations and Maintenance Check Numbers 39012-39083, void check #39017; and the December Cash and Investment Summaries. Ms. Seals seconded the motion and the Board unanimously approved it.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Mr. Ron Sujkowski, of 3184 Yorkshire Drive, Bay City stated that the MBS website is outdated and that the Ifly website still links to the old website. Mr. Nagel stated he has been working with the Marketing Committee and that the Board has hired a new marketing firm. They are in the final stages of updating the website but are waiting for final piece from SwiftTrip. Mr. Nagel stated that both addresses work but are the old site. The new website should be up in the next month.
Mr. Sujkowski commented that Bishop Airport sponsors the news on TV12 and that MBS should consider the same with TV5. He also suggested that the Commission Meetings be held at various times and locations to make people more aware of MBS. Chairman Distler stated that during the year RS&H and Mr. Nagel have traveled to various areas and that there would be more of that in the future as the terminal project goes forward.
INTRODUCTION OF AIRPORT ATTORNEYS:
Chairman Distler stated that the Personnel Committee went through a
selection process to replace Tom Lippert as MBS Airport general counsel. That process resulted in the selection of
Gilbert, Smith & Borrello by the Airport Commission at the December, 2008
meeting.
Mr. Nagel stated that a contract has been
executed with the law firm and all has gone well while working with them during
the last month. Mr. Nagel then
introduced Andre Borrello.
Mr. Borrello addressed the Board. He introduced partner Christina Grossi and
associate Jamie Totten. Two other
partners, David Gilbert and Bill Smith were unable to attend. Mr. Borrello stated that he appreciates the
trust that the Board has placed in them.
He is very committed personally and professionally to public
service. He has had a career in the City
of Saginaw for ten years and has been doing the same type of work with public
bodies. He finds it very satisfying and
will work his hardest to ensure that the trust the Board places in them is not
misplaced.
FAA LEASE: Mr. Nagel stated that the FAA
currently leases two offices in the Administration Building. The lease expires in September, 2009,
however, the FAA has contacted MBS and requested that a new lease rate be
negotiated now rather than wait until later this year. The FAA has been a good tenant and their
operation is a perfect fit for the Administration Building.
The current lease rate is $13.00 per square
foot, which amounts to $10,192 per year.
Numerous conversations have taken place regarding a new rate and $15.05
per square foot was agreed to, which would increase the annual income to
$11,799. This rate would be for five
years and would equal what US Customs currently pays for rent in the
Administration Building. The Customs
lease and the FAA lease would then both expire in 2014. Mr. Gwizdala made a motion to approve the FAA
Lease rate of $15.05 per square foot and authorize the Chairman to sign the
related documents. Ms. Seals seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
PROPERTY ACQUISITION UPDATE: Mr.
Nagel stated that although Mr. Yakima was unable to attend the meeting, he has
been in communication with him. Mr.
Nagel stated that MBS accepted the case evaluation recommendation on the parcel
including the house and rejected the case evaluation recommendation on the
vacant farm land parcel. Mr. Yakima
notified Mr. Nagel that the other side has rejected both case evaluation
recommendations. This results in moving
forward towards trial. There is a
settlement conference set for mid April and possibly a trial date in late April. Mr. Yakima will be at a future meeting if
consultation is needed towards either a settlement or trial strategy. Mr. Nagel will continue to work with Mr.
Yakima.
PROJECT
#3909 AND #4009: Mr. Nagel stated that at the December 20,
2008 meeting, the Airport Commission approved the following two AIP projects
for the first half of 2009:
#3909 Phase II of the terminal project
#4009 Paint the airfield and update the Exhibit A
property map
In compliance with the accelerated FAA
schedule this year, all bids for these projects will be opened on Friday,
February 6, 2009. The FAA requires bid
amounts to be submitted through the State by February 10, 2009 to complete the
grant application process. Submitting
these bid amounts to the FAA as part of the application process does not bind
the commission in any manner, specifically to a particular contractor, nor does
this submission “approve” or otherwise “award” bids. As in the past, all bids and contracts for
these projects will be subject to Airport Commission approval at the regular
Commission meeting on February 19, 2009.
During a typical year, the Commission has time
to approve bids prior to the completion of the grant application; however the
timeframe this year does not permit that.
This has been discussed with the FAA Program Manager, the State Project
Manager, and Mr. Borrello and there is no objection to this since the only
information on the grant application is the bid amount.
To satisfy the unusual time constraints
involved for these grant requests to be considered, Mr. Nagel recommend the
Commission choose one of the following courses of action:
1.
Approve a motion directing the Airport Manager
to submit bid and contract amounts to the FAA for the purpose of completing FAA
Grant Applications for Project #3909 and Project #4009. The amounts submitted to the FAA will be based
on engineer’s recommendation and State Project Manager concurrence. All bids and contracts shall be subject to
Airport Commission approval at the February 19, 2009 regular meeting, it being
further understood that the submission of the application shall not in any
manner bind the Commission to a particular bidder/contractor or to accepting a
grant based on the amounts provided by the Airport Manager; or
2.
Schedule a special meeting of the Airport
Commission for February 9, 2009 to review and approve the Manager’s
recommendation of bid amounts received through the bidding process for
submission to the FAA as described above.
Mr. Nagel emphasized that submissions are
required no later than February 10, 2009, so it is imperative that if the
Commission chooses to have a special meeting on February 9, 2009, that a quorum
be present so that the submission of the application can be considered and
approved. Mr. Gwizdala made a motion to
schedule a special meeting of the Airport Commission for February 9, 2009 to
review and approve the Manager’s recommendation of bid amounts received through
the bidding process for submission to the FAA as described above. Mr. Earley seconded the motion. After discussion took place in regards to the
two options, Chairman Distler asked for a roll call vote. Ms. Meisel took roll call as
follows: Dr. Distler, no; Mr. Early,
yes; Mr. Elder, yes; Mr. Gwizdala, yes; Mr. Krygier, yes; Mr. Lynch, no; Mr.
McKeag, yes; Ms. Seals, no. The motion
carried.
The Special Meeting was set for Monday, February 9th, at 5 p.m. in the Administration Building.
OLD BUSINESS: Mr. Nagel stated that passenger stats are given to the Board each month. There was an article that came out of Midland that was not from any of the represented publications that are at this meeting. The article had incorrect data stating that there was a 19% decline in passenger traffic. MBS will finish the year about 12.5% down with about 304,000 total passengers. Through November, Traverse City is down 8%, Grand Rapids down 9%, Kalamazoo down 13%, and Lansing down 13%. Mr. Nagel stated he wanted to inform the Board that 19% down was incorrect.
NEW BUSINESS: None
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS: Next regular meeting is scheduled for February 19, 2009 and a special meeting on February 9, 2009 at 5p.m.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mr. Gwizdala made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Krygier seconded and the Board unanimously passed the motion. The meeting adjourned at 1:26 p.m.
Eugene F. Gwizdala, Secretary