MBS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMISSION

 

May 20, 2010

 

MINUTES

                                                                           

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

 

COMMISSIONERS

 

Present                           Absent & Excused         Staff                         Other           

Tom Adams                   Darnell Earley                Jeff Nagel                Angela Osmond - TSA

George J. Biltz               Brian K. Elder                Andre R. Borrello   

Bregitte Braddock         Ernie Krygier                 Ryan Riesinger        

Greg Branch                                                          Debbie Meisel         

Eugene F. Gwizdala                                                                               

Jon Lynch                                                             Guests

                                                                              Mark Wilcer, RS&H 

                                                                              Steve Westerbeke, RS&H                                                 

                                                                                                       

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

 

MINUTES:  Mr. Gwizdala made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Commission Meeting held on April 15, 2010.  Mr. Adams seconded the motion.  The motion was unanimously approved by the Board.

 

APRIL 2010 WARRANTS AND CASH & INVESTMENT SUMMARIES:  Mr. Gwizdala made a motion to approve the Warrant Registers for the April Payroll Account Check Numbers 85350-85406; the April Operations and Maintenance Check Numbers 40277-40363; and the April Cash and Investment Summaries.  Mr. Branch seconded the motion and the Board unanimously approved it.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:  None.

 

ELECTION OF OFFICERS:  Mr. Nagel stated that the following Commissioners are the current officers:  George Biltz, Chairman; Gene Gwizdala, Vice-Chairman; and Darnell Earley, Secretary.  All three are in their first term and are eligible for re-election.

 

According to the By-Laws, each governmental entity must be represented by holding an officer position.  Mr. Adams made a motion to nominate the current officers in their same positions.  Ms. Braddock seconded.  There being no further nominations the motion passed unanimously. 

 

The Airport Manager is designated as the Assistant Secretary and Treasurer.

 

MEETING SCHEDULE:  Mr. Nagel stated that the Commission approves the schedule for regular Commission meetings for the next year at the May meeting.  The following schedule sets the date on the third Thursday of each month:

 

             June 17, 2010                                                        January 20, 2011

             July 15, 2010                                                         February 17, 2011

             August 19, 2010                                                    March 17, 2011

             October 21, 2010                                                   April 21, 2011

             November 18, 2010                                               May 19, 2011

             December 16, 2010

 

Due to the service of the Airport Manager on the Board of the Michigan Association of Airport Executives there is a conflict with the September, 2010 meeting date.  Therefore, no Airport Commission meeting has been scheduled for September.  If the need arises for a meeting in September, one will be scheduled at that time.

 

The MBS International Airport Commission meets at 1:00 p.m. in the Commission Board Room, second floor of the Passenger Terminal, 8600 Garfield Road, Freeland, Michigan.

 

Mr. Gwizdala made a motion to approve the schedule of regular meeting dates.  Mr. Branch seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

HANGAR 5 LEASE:  Mr. Nagel stated that at the April 15, 2010 meeting the Commission approved the termination of the existing Hangar 5 lease with Dow Chemical, contingent on a new lease being drafted which incorporates Hangar 5 and 6 for Dow Chemical as part of the overall Dow/Avflight lease exchange.  Discussions between Dow Chemical, Avflight and MBS have been ongoing with progress being made.  At this time, however, there is not a new lease in place.

 

Since the existing lease for Hangar 5 expired on April 30, 2010 and the new lease is not ready for signature, both sides agree that the Hangar 5 lease needs to be formally extended.  Although the recommended extension is for a year, this lease will terminate once the new combined lease is signed.

 

Mr. Nagel has spoken with Dow Chemical and they have agreed to a rate of $.655/square foot which represents a 2.3% increase and is equal to the current Dow Corning ground lease.

 

Mr. Lynch made a motion to approve a one-year extension of the Dow Chemical lease for Hangar 5 at the rate of $.655/square foot and authorize the Vice-Chairman to sign the related documents.  Mr. Branch seconded the motion.  Chairman Biltz abstained from voting.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

OLD BUSINESS: 

 

Emergency Exercise:  Mr. Riesinger stated that the Emergency Exercise was conducted last week on May 13th.  There was excellent participation from all three counties.  Unfortunately the area received over an inch of rain.  Although it was good to train in the rain, the thunderstorms and lightning caused several aspects of the exercise to be modified for safety reasons. 

 

The exercise still provided a good test of being able to establish unified incident command, effectively utilize communications systems, and coordinate with numerous responding agencies and disciplines.  There will be a comprehensive debrief of the exercise conducted next week and an after action report.

 

Mr. Riesinger informed the Commission that the MBS fire personnel will be conducting their annual live fire training Friday evening to give them experience working in the dark.  Also, TV5 will be on site tomorrow as part of their ongoing segment called “Fire Station Friday”.

 

Golf Outing:  Mr. Riesinger stated that the golf outing invitations were mailed.  Commissioners should have received them by now.  The date for the outing is June 4th.  

 

Existing Terminal Review:  Mr. Nagel stated that the Operations Committee has met in regards to the existing terminal review that RS&H is conducting.  The review is in draft form waiting Mr. Nagel’s review.  Following his review he will meet with the Operations Committee again and then report to the full Commission. 

 

Terminal Construction:  Mr. Nagel stated that bids were received for Phase V of the building.  Phase V is the building shell which includes the roof, partitions, electrical system, HVAC, and plumbing.  It is a very large project.  RS&H are in the process of completing a thorough review of those bids.  The Operations Committee has also met.  Mr. Nagel stated that he is also working with the FAA in regard to funding.  Mr. Wilcer and Mr. Nagel will be going to Detroit to meet with the FAA next week with the bids so that they can show a clear picture of where the airport stands in regards to the project.  After they meet with the FAA they will again meet with the Operations Committee.  The goal is to have a recommendation to the Commission by the June meeting.  Mr. Nagel thanked Mr. Wilcer for all of his efforts in reviewing the bids and for working together with Mr. Nagel to comprise the discussion points for the FAA.

 

Air Service:  Mr. Nagel stated that Tom Rockne from MRS went to Chicago and met with United.  He is also trying to set up a meeting with United Express.  He has had several conversations by phone and email with the pricing people from Delta Air Lines and United.  Mr. Nagel is in the process of reviewing the first draft of the reports that has been submitted.  Tom Rockne and Mr. Nagel have met with the travel managers for Dow Corning and Dow Chemical which was a productive meeting.  Mr. Nagel stated that he will continue to work with the Marketing Committee in regards to this project and also in setting up the Community Committee as the process continues. 

 

Mr. Nagel stated that Bolger & Battle is preparing a press release that states MBS is working on attacking the fares and competition with all of the different groups.  It will also be the leading story in the e-newsletter that is sent out quarterly.     

 

NEW BUSINESS: 

 

Airline News:  Mr. Nagel reported on the United and Continental merger.  United is currently serving MBS and Continental was an airline that was being targeted when MBS received the Small Community Air Service Grant with service into Cleveland or Newark.  He will keep the Board updated as more information is released.

 

Legislative Caucus:  Mr. Nagel stated that he is hosting a meeting of the Great Lakes Bay Region Legislative Caucus which consists of State and House leaders and Senate.  The agenda as airport manager is what MBS means to the community and an update on the terminal project.  As First Vice-President of the Michigan Association of Airport Executives he will speak on State Aviation Funding in general.  Due to State budget cuts, programs for airports have been cut.  MBS has lost funding for fire training, a 50/50 local state grant program for paint marking for the airfield and also crack sealing.  Small airports have lost even more programs.  These items will be on the agenda but the main focus will be to educate them on MBS and update them on the new terminal.  If any Commissioner would like to attend that meeting, they are welcome.  The meeting is Friday, June 18th at the Skyroom from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. with breakfast being served.    

 

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS:  Next regular meeting is scheduled for June 17, 2010.

 

ADJOURNMENT:  There being no further business, Mr. Gwizdala made a motion to adjourn.  Mr. Adams seconded and the Board unanimously passed the motion.  The meeting adjourned at 1:19 p.m.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                            Darnell Earley, Secretary