MBS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMISSION
October 21, 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.
Present Absent &
Excused Staff Guests
Ernie
Krygier
Paula
Whittington
AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2010 WARRANTS AND CASH & INVESTMENT SUMMARIES: Mr. Krygier made a motion to approve the Warrant Registers for the August Payroll Account Check Numbers 85610-85666 and September Payroll Account Check Numbers 85667-85724; the August Operations and Maintenance Check Numbers 40573-40646 and September Operations and Maintenance Check Numbers 40647-40718; and the August and September Cash and Investment Summaries. Ms. Braddock seconded the motion and the Board unanimously approved it.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
CONSUMERS
ENERGY EASEMENTS: Mr. Nagel stated
that Consumers Energy is preparing to
run the electric and gas service into the new terminal site. Consumers Energy has met with RS&H and
airport staff to determine the best route for this service. Consumers plans to begin this work in
conjunction with the Spence Brothers contract.
Consumers Energy requires an easement from
MBS to allow this work to be performed.
This is similar to the easement Consumers received when gas and electric
were extended to the Dow Corning hangar site.
Mr. Elder made a motion to grant Consumers the requested easement for
the purpose of extending gas and electric service to the new terminal site and authorize
the Chairman, or in his absence the Vice-Chairman and Secretary, to sign all related
documents. Mr. Krygier seconded and the
motion passed unanimously.
PHASE II
WATER LOOP – SECOND PAYMENT: Mr.
Nagel stated that in 2008 when
the utilities for the new terminal were installed, the Township determined that
a “looped” water system was required to supply the new building. Because additional coordination was needed,
and because of a very tight FAA timeframe for grants, the Township allowed MBS to
install a portion of the water main with an understanding that additional water
main would need to be constructed at joint Township and Airport expense. Since that time, staff has worked with the
Township to develop a plan which meets the Township requirements,
MBS needs and keeps the project on schedule.
The Commission approved the easements for this water main at the April
15, 2010 meeting.
The
Township bid the project and was responsible for construction oversight. MBS was responsible for its share of the
project costs. The Township requested a
partial payment on July 1, 2010 and the Airport Commission approved a $75,000
payment at the June 17, 2010 Commission meeting.
The
project is now complete and the Township has submitted the final bill to the
airport. The amount owed to the Township
is $118,232.88. This covers the
remainder of the airport share of construction costs plus the MBS share of
legal expenses, engineering expenses and contingencies.
Because
bids came in under the original estimate, the cost is actually lower than the
budget number placed in the 10 year Airport Improvement Plan. Now that all costs are final, these costs
will be placed on a future FAA grant for reimbursement.
Mr.
Krygier made a motion to authorize the Airport Manager to pay the Township
$118,232.88 as final payment of the MBS share of the Phase II Water Loop. Mr. Adams seconded and the motion passed
unanimously.
RESOLUTION
OF APPRECIATION: Mr. Nagel stated that Mike Behm has been
employed at MBS for 27 years in the Maintenance Department. He will be retiring effective October 29,
2010. Mr. Nagel stated that the airport
appreciates Mike’s years of service to MBS which is demonstrated in the
attached Resolution of Appreciation. The
resolution once passed, will be presented to Mike at a retirement luncheon next
Thursday. Mr. Nagel stated that Mike is
topnotch and will be thoroughly missed.
Ms.
Braddock made a motion to approve the following Resolution of Appreciation.
MBS International
Airport Commission
Resolution
of Appreciation
The
MBS International Airport Commission
recognizes
with great appreciation the dedicated service of
MICHAEL R. BEHM
who has
served the airport and the owner communities for 27 years. Mike began his career in the Airport
Maintenance Department and has continued his public service in that role. Mike currently has the most seniority of all
MBS Airport Maintenance employees.
During his years of service Mike has willingly aided the airport managers,
acting on behalf of the Airport Commission and the management staff.
His pleasant company will be missed by all who have
served and worked with him. The best
wishes of his fellow employees and airport management are with him as he
retires.
This Resolution of Appreciation was unanimously
adopted at a regular meeting of the MBS Airport Commission on October 21, 2010
and shall be retained in the permanent minutes of the commission.
MBS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMISSION
Bay
County City
of Midland City
of Saginaw
Eugene F. Gwizdala Tom
Adams Bregitte
Braddock
Ernie Krygier Jr. George
J. Biltz Darnell
Earley
Brian K. Elder Paula
Whittington Greg
Branch
Jeff Nagel, Airport Manager
Andre Borrello, Airport
Attorney
Mr. Krygier seconded. Mr. Krygier asked whether Mike will be
replaced or if the job will be absorbed.
Mr. Nagel stated that it had been discussed in length. The airport runs with a lean staff and with
the requirements of the FAA he will need to be replaced. Snow removal operation is the primary concern
since the airport runs two shifts in the winter time with four employees on the
first shift and three on the second shift.
The airport is currently advertising and will be interviewing in the
near future. The new employee will begin
at a lower wage and will also be on the Hybrid MERS pension plan that was
initiated during the last union negotiations.
The new employee will be the second person added to this plan. There being no further discussion, the motion
passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
Dow/Avflight Lease: Mr. Nagel stated that the Dow/Avflight hangar exchange leases are now complete and executed. Dow Chemical is not in possession of Hangar #6 yet but they are doing some work. Avflight is now in possession of Hangar #4 and are doing a substantial amount of work. It will become a nice fixed based operation for the GA population at MBS. It’s very exciting to see it move forward. Mr. Nagel thanked Mr. Borrello for all his help.
Current Terminal Study Review: Mr. Nagel stated that he and RS&H have been working back and forth. He is hoping to place the review on the upcoming Operation Committee Meeting agenda and hopefully bring it back to the Board as early as November pending the results at the Operations Committee review.
AIP Program: Mr. Nagel stated that he gave an update on the AIP program in a recent mailing. Congress has passed AIP funding through the end of this calendar year. He will forward more information as it becomes available. Mr. Nagel has a concern where the funding stands after the election and whether the two parties can get along in Washington.
NEW BUSINESS:
Construction: Mr. Nagel stated that the contracts for the next phase of the terminal project have been signed with Spence Brothers and the Notice to Proceed has been issued to Spence. Mr. Nagel stated that Spence started sending in submittals into RS&H prior to the Notice to Proceed being signed. There are some temporary lights installed at the building. CCC, the contractor for Phase III is going through some punch list items and finishing that project. Hopefully that part will be completed as year-end approaches and Spence will be moving forward in the next couple of weeks.
Union Change: Mr. Nagel stated that there has been a change in union representation at MBS from Teamster Local Union 486 to Teamster Local Union 214. Notification was received by both unions. Union 214 is more the public section of union employees. Mr. Nagel had discussions with Mr. Borrello and it was determined that the Board be informed but that there was no action needed. The union represents 20 employees at MBS. Mr. Nagel informed the Personnel Committee members that although the union and staff had met a couple of times, the union employees requested that union negotiations be put on hold until they met with the new union representative. There will be another Personnel Meeting to update the members upon further negotiations.
Passenger Count: Chairman Biltz commented that the total passenger count for last month was up. Mr. Nagel stated that August was up and September was substantially up; about 12%. He stated that the parking lot looked pretty full in October. Mr. Nagel stated that Tom Rockne is doing a good job. There will be a follow-up Marketing Committee Meeting to discuss the six month review with Tom Rockne and Patrick McIntyre.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS: Next regular meeting is scheduled for November 18, 2010.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mr. Krygier made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Adams seconded and the Board unanimously passed the motion. The meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.
Darnell Earley, Secretary