Authority Minutes Regular Meeting JANUARY 17, 2018 APPROVED/FINAL FEBRUARY 21, 2018 Members Present: Others Present: John Knorr, Chairman Jim Lucachick Reed Olson Roger Hellquist Ron Johnson Karen Weller Sarah Blomdahl Kellie Dixon Mike Karvakko Al Felix John Baumgartner Glen Lindseth Paul Shough Erik Hokuf Authority Authority (County) Authority (County) Authority (City) Authority (City) Authority (Executive Director) Authority (Administrative Assistant) Karvakko Karvakko City of Bemidji Citizen NCS, Inc. BASI AirCorps Aviation Members Absent: None Chairman John Knorr called the regular meeting of the Bemidji Regional Airport Authority to order at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, in the Conference Room at the Bemidji Regional Airport. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Acknowledge guests: None Acknowledge non-agenda items: Executive Director Karen Weller said a request for approval of an easement off Balsam Road was added under New Items. Minutes: Minutes for the December 20, 2017 Regular Meeting. Member Ron Johnson made a motion to approve the Minutes for the December 20, 2017 regular meeting. Member Roger Hellquist made a second. A roll call was given and documented by Clerk Blomdahl and motion was carried with unanimous vote. Bills: Bills/Checks/EFTs for the period of December 21, 2017 February 21, 2018. Page 1 of 5
Member Reed Olson made a motion to approve the Bills for the period of December 21, 2017 February 21, 2018. Member Ron Johnson made a second. A roll call was given and documented by Clerk Blomdahl and Motion was carried four to one votes with Members Knorr, Hellquist, Olson and Johnson voting aye and Member Lucachick voting nay. Financial Reports: Financial reports for December 2017. Statement of Net Assets Revenue of Expenses (Budget) Member Roger Hellquist made a motion to approve the Financial Reports for December 2017 and Member Ron Johnson made a second. A roll call was given and documented by Clerk Blomdahl and motion was carried with unanimous vote. Enplanements: An informational report on enplanements for December 2017 was available. Executive Director Karen Weller stated the 2017 year-to-date enplaned revenue passengers through December was 28,779. The prior year, 2016, had 25,237. She said the Local Air Service Action meeting last week showed varied numbers with all airports having increased passengers. Chairman John Knorr said they would need to look at expanding the parking lot in long term planning. Project / Grant Reports: AIP 30 Master Plan / Airport Layout Plan Project: Executive Director Karen Weller said (with the Master Plan) they are responding to the latest round of comments to the FAA and working on the grant closeout report. AIP 31 West Taxi Lane Construction / 2015 Pavement Improvements: Executive Director Weller said MnDOT and the FAA have begun their review of the closeout report and approved a partial final payment as well as the amendment of about $10,000. AIP 32 SRE Building Construction / EA / ARFF Equipment: Executive Director Karen Weller said all work is complete and they are working on the grant closeout. AIP 33 New Taxiways / Building Access Control: Executive Director Karen Weller said the taxiway J/K project work is still in winter suspension and will resume in the spring. The Access Control Project is moving along. She said everything is still on schedule to have installation and programming done by February 1. AIP 34 ARFF Truck, Crack Sealing, and Concrete Panel Replacement: The Executive Director stated the Engineer s design reports were sent to the FAA and the Safety and Phasing Plan is already there. The Crack sealing plans and specs are about 90% complete and they hope to bid soon. Plans and specs are in progress for the Concrete Panel Replacement and still expect to bid sometime in February. Airport EDA Public Works Project (T-Hangars and Airside Ramp): Executive Director Karen Weller said the current approval is for the two T-hangars and the Airside Ramp. Chairman John Knorr said he did not think that (at this point in time) they need two 10-place hangars. He said he believed they needed room for corporate aircraft. He suggested taking out one of the 10-unit t-hangars and put in four large corporate hangars. He said they would not be doing anything different, just changing the design of the hangars. Bemidji Aviation President Paul Shough concurred with the need to larger hangars. Page 2 of 5
2017 City of Bemidji Special Archery Hunt: Executive Director Karen Weller said the year s hunt concluded with 17 deer taken. There were no police reports from the City other than someone had dumped a couch by the road. She said the Deer Committee would be meeting that night to discuss next year s hunt. Charter Service to Nashville: Executive Director Karen Weller said she is still working on a Charter flight to Nashville; air service by Sun Country and travel services by Let s Go Travelling. The question at last month s meeting was if the ownership change of Sun Country would affect this at all. Executive Director Karen Weller said it would only if timing of their legal department consumed with this buy-out/merger. She said it is not delayed enough that they need to start changing the dates. Advertising will start as soon as Sun Country gives the go ahead. Leases for private hangars: Executive Director Karen Weller said that after developing a policy for leases she would bring it to the Authority Board for approval, with hopes to have straightforward and set guidelines for tenants to avoid struggles with negotiations. City Attorney Al Felix said an example would be to make them 20-year leases rather than 20-year leases with the option to renew every five years. Authority s five-year Airport consultant Request for Qualifications (RFQ): Executive Director Karen Weller stated that every five years a Request For Qualifications for an airport consultant must be put out as required by the FAA and the AIP grant funding. A request has been e-mailed to several consultants directly, several local firms, advertised in the MN Council of Airports website and in the Airport Consultant s Council newsletter twice. She said the Statements of Qualifications are due January 26, evaluated the week of January 29, and recommendation brought to the Board early February. The review panel will consist of Executive Director Karen Weller, Chairman John Knorr, City Manager Nate Matthews and possibly Jed Nordon, upcoming appointed County Engineer. Executive Director Karen Weller said the choice has to be based on qualifications. Chairman John Knorr said this to be the suggested process and told the Board he was, open to better ideas or different thoughts that will stay within the regulations of the FAA. After no comments were offered, he said, If that sounds agreeable to everybody than we will proceed like that and the group will bring back their findings for whoever applied for the Authority to look at and consider and decide upon. Airport Advisory Group Bemidji Regional Airport Affairs Council: Executive Director Karen Weller said she met with Dave Hengel, Erik Hokuf and Sara Zimmerman to discuss the Airport Advisory Group. She said the purpose of the group was to 1) foster communications between the Authority, Authority staff and region s aviation community, 2) to educate the community on aviation-related issues and opportunities, and 3) to advocate support for the development of the aviation industry. The group would serve as an advisory to the Authority for issues related to general aviation. Membership will focus on those having involvement by a wide variety of aviation groups, businesses and organizations, members of flying clubs, individuals who have t-hangars, MN/DOT, FAA, governing bodies, and perhaps federal and state legislators. Executive Director Karen Weller said initially they would meet monthly. Member Jim Lucachick made a motion to accept and recognize Bemidji Regional Airport Affairs Council and Member Reed Olson made a second. A roll call was given and documented by Clerk Blomdahl and motion was carried with unanimous vote. Page 3 of 5
Airport Authority Officers for 2018: Executive Director Karen Weller explained the yearly rotation and provided a paper chart showing previous years and order of officers. This year (2018), the rotation would change Member Olson to Vice Chair, Member Hellquist becomes the treasurer and Member Lucachick and Member Johnson come out of the rotation and go to the back end. Member Ron Johnson made a motion to accept these officers for 2018. Member Reed Olson made a second. A roll call was given and documented by Clerk Blomdahl and motion was carried with unanimous vote. Authorize easement to MERC, subject to FAA approval: Executive Director Karen Weller said than an easement is waiting approval for a gas line to be buried. It was approved by the City and will be reviewed by the County in February. City Attorney Al Felix said he has been suggesting that any compensation for this property was to go to the Airport. He said this could help the Airport recoup some of the expense from last summer s Environmental work done at the old gun cub site. Executive Director Karen Weller said through the Master Plan, any piece of airport land that has any kind of encumbrance on it has to be declared and the FAA has to be notified. Chairman John Knorr asked for a motion. Member Roger Hellquist made a motion to accept at 30 feet with proceeds to go to the Bemidji Regional Airport. Member Jim Lucachick made a second. A roll call was given and documented by Clerk Blomdahl and motion was carried with unanimous vote. Personnel Update/Employee News: Executive Director Karen Weller said January 1 began the second year of a three-year contract with our local 49 and it included a 1.5% cost of living adjustment. Chairman s Comments: Chairman John Knorr asked how snow removal has been. Executive Director Karen Weller said it has been going well, but challenging because of all the ice. The Chairman asked for any other comments there were none Member Jim Lucachick motioned to adjourn the meeting and Member Roger Hellquist made a second. Meeting was adjourned. Respectfully Submitted by: Sarah R. Blomdahl Administrative Assistant Bemidji Regional Airport Authority Page 4 of 5
At 5:00 pm John Knorr Chairman Roger Hellquist (City) Ron Johnson (City) Reed Olson (County) Jim Lucachick (County) Items for Approval Consent Agenda: Minutes regular meeting aye second motion second aye Bills aye aye second motion nay Budget Reports aye motion second aye aye Enplanements informational item Recognize Bemidji Regional Airport Affairs Council aye aye aye second motion Airport Authority Officers for 2018 aye aye motion second aye Authorize easement to MERC, subject to FAA approval aye motion aye aye second Adjourn Meeting aye second aye aye motion Page 5 of 5