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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes April 3, 2024 1 Rexburg/Madison County Joint Airport Board Minutes April 3rd, 2024 Those in Attendance: Airport Board Members: Todd Smith – County Commissioner David Taylor Colin Ericson - City Council Liaison Randy Sutton Matt Nielson – City of Rexburg CFO Rob Webster Keith Davidson – Staff Liaison/Public Works Criag Cobia Natalie Powell Conger– Compliance/Minutes Those that asked to be excused: Ray Pocock, Mark Jensen and Wade Bowman. Colin Ericson and Matt Nielson also had a conflict and could not attend. Those in attendance from the community: Craig Frisby, John Seal, Bryan Lee, Wendy Miskin and JaNeal Shaw Public Works Director Keith Davidson – Opened the meeting at 4:30PM. He welcomed all those in attendance. Vice Chairman Randy Sutton – Started on the agenda items. He turned the time over to Wendy Miskin to discuss the Airport Website. She stated she was contracted years ago by David Taylor to make a website, she would like to know what she can do to make it more efficient. She asked how it could be utilized better. She asked if the board members had any updates or changes that need to be made on the website. Not everyone was aware of where to find the website so it was suggested that everyone take the next few weeks to review it and then pick the conversation back up at the next board meeting. Please use this link https://rexburgmadisonairport.org/ Rob Webster suggested changing the picture of the plane on the website to one that had an N number. Local planes were discussed. He also suggested that there be an airport layout on the website showing pattern altitude and runways. Extra airport information. Link to Airnav https://www.airnav.com/airports and a link to Foreflight.com Vice Chairman Randy Sutton: Moved to the next item on the agenda. Fire Chief Corey Child is looking for pilots that would be willing to go up at the first indication of a fire and help get information back down to the ground crew. This would be done through the Madsion County Search & Rescue Department. Additional flight instruction may be required. It is important for crews to know which direction the fire is moving in and how fast. It is also helpful to get the ground crews in safely and a base camp set up quickly. Chief Child is looking for pilots willing to be put on a short list of people he can contact that would be available to get up quickly. Discussion took place and direction was given to tell Chief Child to contact Rob Webster with more information. Anyone else interested should contact Chief Child at the Fire Station. 2 Rob Webster brought up the concerns of a TFR -Temporary Flight Restriction, usually it is for at least a five mile radius at first report of smoke. Includes a ceiling height that a pilot should not go below so there isn’t interference with the planes dumping on the fire. Foreflight is essential, especially on a cross county flight. Discussion also took place relating to the pilot; as the pilot should be flying the plane and a spotter should be sitting on the right, possibly in the back seat. Therefore, not only is there a need for pilots but also need for a spotter. Anyone else interested should contact Chief Child at the Fire Station. Vice Chairman Randy Sutton: Moved to the next item on the agenda by turning the time over to Public Works Director Keith Davidson for airport updates and timelines. Public Works Director Keith Davidson: stated the final scope of work is completed. Approved through the FAA for the environmental assessment. He reminded those in attendance that the original engineering firm was GDA they were bought out by TO who has recently been bought out by Ardura. Ardura is now putting together their cost for it. Keith is also reaching out to additional firms because the cost is so high we have to do an independent fee evaluation on it. Other engineering firms look at the same scope of work and then they put their fees in with it. Then we compare. We are in that process right now. We will have biologists go out and start doing their work with the sage grouse and the lex. Now is the perfect time to be having them on site out there. We will get a jump on that and get them going so we can move this project along at hopefully a faster pace. Vice Chairman Randy Sutton: clarified that the bulk of the work should be completed this season? Keith replied yes we’re hoping that is the case. We are also looking for additional ground that we can purchase and then trade with the BLM. We have to go through that process as well with environmental clearances anytime you are dealing with the federal government. There are a lot of hoops to jump through. Vice Chairman Randy Sutton: asked when a completion date is expected. Keith answered maybe 18 months however the EA could be up to two years depending on what issues come up as they go through that process. Public Works Director Keith Davidson: Laid out the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the current airport and the relocation project, we are looking at about 9 years. Groundbreaking and opening of the new airport in 2033 as long as everything falls into place. JaNeal Shaw mentioned that at a previous meeting Keith had given specific timelines such as when bids will go out etc. Keith reiterated that the EA will take at least a couple of years; a lot of it stims around the FAA funding. The EA, finding land to swap, 2026-2028, design 2030, construction 2031 and open in 2033. 6600 foot runway by 75 feet wide with the ability to expand as growth occurs. Vice Chairman Randy Sutton: Thanked Keith for the update. Discussion took place concerning having airport board meetings only once a quarter rather than every month due to the fact that not a lot changes month to month. Suggestion was made to look at a calendar, put some prime dates on it. Of course if anything came up between scheduled meetings an additional meeting would be called together. Those in attendance agreed and a decision was made to put the item on next month’s agenda for a vote and recommendation to City Council for their approval. 3 JaNeal Shaw asked Keith if she could go back a step to the relocation project. She asked Keith if there will be a manager hired to oversee the project. Keith affirmed that the engineering firm selected will oversee the completion of the project. Bryan Lee questioned the total cost of the relocation project. He wanted to know how it was broken down. Keith said that 90% of the cost is picked up by the FAA the remaining cost is split between the State of Idaho, Madison County and The City of Rexburg. The State of Idaho typically picks up 7% leaving the other 3% to be split evenly between Madison County and The City of Rexburg. The County and the City currently each have their required amounts in savings. Bryan Lee asked how that process is approved through the County and the City. Keith stated it goes through their individual budget processes. Between the two there is a little over $2 million set aside so that would cover our 10% required for a $20 million relocation project as of now. However, the State of Idaho has already approved a grant for $4 million towards the Rexburg relocation project. Randy Sutton clarified that in this case the state is giving a fixed sum rather than a percentage. Keith confirmed that it is a fixed amount. Depending on how it all works out, with regards to their $4 million and our joint $2 million that would cover rising costs up to a $60 million relocation. We will keep updates coming to the board as we get closer and budgetary numbers come in estimating where the costs will actually come in at. Commissioner Todd Smith affirmed that the county has $1 million set aside currently out of the general fund. Confirming no bond will be needed. Public Works Director Keith Davidson: Moved through the remaining items under David Taylor’s concerns. Transit parking spaces and fee schedule review and enforcement was discussed first. Natalie Powell Conger presented monthly inventory documentation for the last year. There are currently only five planes out of compliance. Those five were discussed. Natalie stated she spoke with Lewis Hart today. Lewis has moved the Warrior and the Tomahawk into his hangar, leaving the Cherakee on the ramp to be moved asap. Craig Frisby confirmed that all other planes will be moved by the end of the month therefore no citations will be required at this time. Craig stated Jennifer Caine is selling her plane N5109D a Cessna 182A and it will move off site soon. Tanner Johnson N4050F a Cessna 172 sold to Shanell who lives in Tetonia Richard Green N8680T a Cessna 182C physically cannot fly anymore. Richard’s daughter is in the process of getting the plane sold. John Davis comes over in the fall and leaves in the spring, it should be gone shortly. Jared Marlowe’s Cessna 150 is still on the ramp. He is currently in Twin Falls flying for the fires. Vice Chairman Randy Sutton: moved to the next item, South gate entrance asphalt issues were discussed next. Keith stated this is the first he has heard of the issue. Craig Frisby stated the area is straight east of the south gate. It is the whole area from the gate to the main taxi way. Keith stated he will put the project on the CIP as a top priority. He mentioned there is $60,000 in the budget for seal coating and crack sealing. We can just move that money over and see what asphalt repair would cost. Vice Chairman Randy Sutton asked that Keith study that and report back next meeting. Vice Chairman Randy Sutton: Next item, Ground Sterilization contract. Keith stated we currently have a contract with Allred Gemco Inc. for $800.00 a year and plan on renewing it again this year. Craig Frisby said it keeps the weeds down around the VASI and the runway lights. Keith said the City of Rexburg Parks Department (Greg McInns) will be mowing the ground again this year. 4 Vice Chairman Randy Sutton: Next item, Update on the storage shed for the snow removal equipment. The low bid was $48,556. Keith stated it is a 32 by 42 with a 14x14 door and a total height of 24 feet. He said it is $18,900 is the cost of the installation so it’s like a $30,000 structure. Both ends will be enclosed. He stated Lego concrete blocks would be used for the base (an additional cost) and fill in the ends, anchor it, put the cams over the top of it. This item has been put on the October budget to see if we can get it approved. Or we have that $60,000 but it seems like that is needed more to repair the asphalt at the south gate to the main taxiway. Craig Cobia asked if this storage shed would be taken down and transferred to the new location. Keith said it would. Vice Chairman Randy Sutton: Next item, Preparations for next month’s budget meeting. Randy asked Keith if he needed any input from the board members in preparation for the budget meeting. Keith said not really, he will get numbers for the projects and come prepared to the budget hearing. He encouraged all to attend it will be held May 1, 2024. Vice Chairman Randy Sutton: Next item, Rexburg Air Service transfer of ownership to John Seal. Randy turned the time over to John Seal to introduce himself. John began by complementing Craig Frisby for his many years of dedication to the airport. Everyone has grown accustomed to Craig being on the field and doing incredible work. Awfully large shoes to fill and John stated he will not be able to fill them. Craig cannot be replaced. John asked for everyone’s patience during this learning process and taking over responsibility. Craig has stated that he will stay on for a while during the transition. Everyone in the room agreed Craig has taken a lot of worry off the minds of the pilots and brought them safely home for over 40 years. John asked what he and his team can do to support the pilots, the airfield and the community better? Rob Webster concerns with the student pilot training at the airport. John stated he owns both the flight school and the FBO. He understands that with student pilot training it is a pain in the neck. Rob mentioned this morning he was out at the airport and there were five planes in the pattern. Rob suggested that the instructors be told to keep control of the situation and if they need to extend a leg in the pattern to do so. This will allow planes to get in or to take off safely. He said Logan Utah was like a zoo and he doesn’t want the same thing happening here in Rexburg. For an example, Rob stated he was fourth in line to take off this morning and he had to make a call on the radio “Would you guys extend downwind so we can take off?” Rob said there is a lot of unnecessary talking on the radio…”hey how ya doin’ today”….”hey good morning!” Everyone could be a bit more professional in his opinion, be aware of who’s out there and if there are more than a couple of planes in the pattern then let’s make the pattern bigger. John Seal likes feedback like this. He has gotten feedback from Craig, Lewis & some other seasoned pilots about where to do runups so there isn’t any prop wash into hangars. We are learning, listening and getting better he said. We represent some of the students that are out there however not all. There are two other groups doing instruction. As the FBO, John stated he will calibrate with all the groups to educate and create some best practices; SOP 5 Randy Sutton thought John has hit on a great idea by creating an SOP, some published, printed, guidelines just some commonsense type of stuff for those flight instructors to utilize would really help. John Seal stated that he has created an internal SOP which does include runup areas, practice areas (to avoid) Several people in the community have called asking that the students quit doing circles around their property. The feedback is coming in, SOPs are being created. John thanked everyone again for their patience. He will work on radio calls as well; they are just trying to establish really good radio habits in the students. Rob Webster stated that student pilots are overwhelmed that is why the instructor should be more aware and if the instructor hears that there’s someone 10 miles out, landing Rexburg, then the instructor should have the students be thinking about how they have to work in another plane into the pattern. For example, this morning Rob said there was a student doing touch and go’s. The student pilot got on the radio and said, “Where’s that Cub?” Rob replied “I’m over the water tower” Conclusion, everyone is trying to learn and work together but with that many planes in the pattern we don’t want an accident. Randy Sutton stated that we also realized that without flight instruction there will be no future pilots in aviation. Chairman David Taylor joined the discussion at 5:05 PM. A quick summary of the meeting thus far took place for David’s benefit. Vice Chairman Randy Sutton: Next item on the agenda, New Board Member Activity. Commissioner Todd Smith stated he will put it on the agenda for the Madison County Commissioner’s meeting to be held on Monday. Meeting was adjourned until May 1, 2024