AIRPORT COMMISSION

 

Tuesday, December 5, 2006

 

 

Attending Members:  Tom Meacham, Chairman; JJ Greenway, Pilot Rep.; Patrick McFadden, FBO Rep.; Paul Smith, Alderman; and Charlie Abell, Airport Manager.

 

Attending Guests:  Bill Wierzbicky, Airport Association; Rodney Martz, Airport Association; Pete Zawadski, Citizen; Ron Tobin, COF; Morgane Grivel, Frederick Flight Center; Doug Kelly, EAA; Bill Greenwell, Frederick Aviation; Bob Jackson, M-ASA; Tim Davis, COF; Heather Gramm, COF; and Tammy Albaugh, Airport Secretary.

 

Absent Members:  Bruce Reeder, County Commissioner; and William Lukens, Citizen Rep. (excused).

 

Chairman Meacham called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone in attendance.  He stated that the approval of the September 28, 2006 and October 26, 2006 will have to wait until there is a quorum.

 

Old Business

 

Airport Projects Update

 

Charlie Abell reported on the following projects:

 

  • Tulip Hill Easements – KCI have produced plats for each property owner and they have been submitted to DPS for negotiations. 

 

  • Bowman Farm – DPS has submitted the Option Contract to the property owner.  The attorney for the property owner has notified the City that they want to reduce the amount of acreage; however the City is not interested in reducing the acreage.  The City will proceed to condemnation.

 

  • M&RR – DPS has submitted the Option Contract to the property owner.  The City will proceed to condemnation.

 

  • Waffle House – Appraisal is expected next week.

 

  • Toms Farm – Offer has been made and second appraisal has been completed.

 

  • Perimeter Fence – A letter has been sent to AOPA notifying them that we are moving forward with the fencing design.  We have also sent the “Through the Fence” contact to AOPA for signature.

 

  • FCC Hangar – The City staff will continue to work with County staff and the new Board to acquire the hangar for the airport.

 

Chairman Meacham asked if we have wasted our time on the Toms Farm.  Mr. Abell responded that doing the second appraisal shows good faith effort to work with the property owner.  Paul Smith asked why it is not advantageous to just purchase an easement.  Mr. Abell stated that we should acquire the entire farm and when we own it we can control the entire property, which has major obstructions on it.  Chairman Meacham stated that it is important to control the height of the buildings.

 

Chairman Meacham stated that there is now a quorum and he asked for a motion to approve the minutes for the September 28, 2006 meeting.  Patrick McFadden made a motion to approve the minutes and JJ Greenway seconded the motion.  With a vote of 3 in favor and Paul Smith abstaining the motion passed and the minutes were approved as submitted.  Chairman Meacham asked for a motion to approve the October 26, 2006 minutes.  JJ Greenway made a motion to approve the minutes and Patrick McFadden seconded the motion.  With a vote 3 in favor and Chairman Meacham abstaining, the motion passed and the minutes were approved as submitted.

 

Airport Master Plan/Business Plan Update

 

Tim Davis mentioned that Spires GIS (geographic information system) is now available on the City’s website and it is a wealth of information for the City.  Mr. Davis reported that the Master Plan information is also available on the website and it lists what has been completed.  He said that he hoped to have more information on the business plan, but they are just getting started.  He said that there will be a separate meeting on the business plan with the TAC committee.

 

Draft ALP Submission

 

Tim Davis reported that the draft ALP will be submitted within the next two weeks. 

 

Discussion of Upcoming FACT Board Meeting

 

Tim Davis reported that a discussion has been requested with FACT, which is Frederick Area Committee on Transportation.  He said that they have been together for approximately 12 years and they have a fairly successful track record in getting money to Frederick County for projects.  He said that a meeting has been scheduled for Monday at 7:30 a.m. in Winchester Hall for FACT to be briefed on projects at the airport.  He said that he welcomes any comments from the Airport Commission as to what they feel FACT can do for the airport.

 

Paul Smith commented that there was some communication about the glider issue and he saw some information from URS that explained different reasons the grass area won’t work beside Runway 12/30, but he felt that they hadn’t addressed a few other issues that he wanted to explore to make sure that it wouldn’t work.  Mr. Tobin mentioned that he met with Dave Clark of FACT and discussed the tower and other airport projects with him.  Chairman Meacham mentioned that FACT has, in the past, gotten involved in some issues at our request and one of them to submit a letter with respect to the FCC building. 

 

Pete Zawadski wanted to follow up on the comment about the glider operations alternatives.  He said that he is trying to see what kind of process or commitment this committee can make for the glider operations?  Paul Smith responded that if the experts say we can’t do it, then we will follow their advice and he is not sure what the Airport Commission can do.

 

Bill Greenwell asked if the draft ALP will have the opportunity to come back for comments after the FAA review.  Tim Davis stated that URS will submit what is there for the Preferred Alternative and when the FAA has provided all their comments, then it will go back through the TAC and Mayor and Board.  Further discussion took place regarding items that have been discussed and are not on the draft ALP.  JJ Greenway stated that we have experienced difficulty for the last seven or eight years with items that were left off the drawings or were there and then removed.  It was decided that a current drawings would be distributed and a meeting would be scheduled with the Airport Commission and TAC.  Ron Tobin stated all comments, transmittals and paperwork could be completed in December and a meeting held in January with a current document.  He said that whether it is an advisory group or an ad-hoc meeting we should at least be able to present what the final document that is going to be transmitted to the FAA will be, which addresses the concerns of this group.

 

Review of FAA ACIP

 

Ron Tobin stated that we are working with the FAA ACIP program and the Airport Commission will have the opportunity to review it.

 

FAA Communications Tower (R/W 30 Approach)

 

Charlie Abell stated that he received a letter from the FAA and he wasn’t sure what it meant, so he called the FAA and they confirmed that they will not be building a communications tower on the approach to Runway 30.

 

Site Plan Reviews

 

Chairman Meacham stated that 3 plans have been reviewed and comments will be submitted accordingly.

 

Commissioner Reports

 

JJ Greenway asked if we can stop the County from using the FCC facility for non-aviation purposes.  Charlie Abell responded that it is County property.  Ron Tobin stated that we are so close to closing this deal that it is not worth pursuing legal remedies.  He said that he is not saying that we won’t, but not at this time.

 

Paul Smith mentioned that Frederick Aviation has made a suggestion that it may be in our interest to require locks on all planes, and he felt that it was worth discussing.  Chairman Meacham said that the discussion is should we investigate the possibility of requiring airplanes at the Frederick Airport not in hangars to have external locks on their propellers.  Mr. Smith said that ignition locks were also mentioned, not just propeller locks.  Mr. Abell asked if Frederick Aviation has locks on all the aircraft on their ramp.  Bill Greenwell responded that it is not a requirement.   Mr. Smith also asked why we shouldn’t have an Airport Authority that would outlast the political administrations.  Mr. Abell asked what we would gain if we had an authority.  Mr. Smith responded that it would take the authority from the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, which could be better for the airport.  Mr. Abell mentioned that an authority has its pros and cons and it is something that should be looked at from time-to-time.  JJ Greenway stated that as the airport grows we may not have a choice.  Chairman Meacham stated that there are 35 licensed airports in Maryland and 5 of those have Airport Authorities.  He said that there are two kinds of Commissions 1) advice only, which are severely limited and 2) not restricted to advice only, which can undertake projects and aid in the function between owners and users of the airport.  He said that we could devise whatever we want for our airport.  Chairman Meacham also mentioned that the real question is:  Is the way we are currently running the airport the best way for the airport? 

 

New Business

 

Multi-User Representative

 

JJ Greenway asked what the status is of the Multi-User Representative.  Ron Tobin responded that he has advised the Mayor that the Commission is interested in getting a Multi-User Rep. on board and he will re-advise him again.  He also said that it is the Mayor’s decision.  Mr. Greenway also asked what the status is for the Assistant Airport Manager.  Ron Tobin responded that we have held 2 interviews and we will hold 2 more next week and he thinks we will get someone out of this process.

 

Announcements

 

Charlie Abell mentioned that Pete King, an airport tenant, has donated his Global Swift, N80518, to the National Air and Space Museum at Dulles and it will hang over the Concord. 

 

Chairman Meacham mentioned that January is the time to elect a new Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

 

There being no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned.

 

Respectfully Submitted,                                                            NEXT MEETING

                                                                                  Thursday, January 25, 2007 7:00 p.m.

                                                                                          Department of Public Works

 

Tammy Albaugh

Administrative Assistant