2023-06-21 Special Meeting
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35
JUNE 21, 2023 SPECIAL MEETING PAGE 811
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for a Joint Special Meeting with the New Hanover
County Airport Authority on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 8:40 a.m. in the second floor conference room of the
Wilmington International Airport, 1740 Airport Boulevard, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present: Chair Bill Rivenbark; Vice-Chair LeAnn Pierce; Commissioner Jonathan Barfield, Jr.;
Commissioner Dane Scalise; and Commissioner Rob Zapple.
Staff present: County Manager Chris Coudriet; County Attorney Wanda Copley; and Clerk to the Board
Kymberleigh G. Crowell.
New Hanover County Airport Authority members present: Chair Spruill Thompson; Vice-Chair Nick Rhodes;
Secretary Thomas Wolfe; Faison Gibson Sutton; and W. Lee Williams. Jason Thompson was absent.
Wilmington International Airport staff present: Airport Director Jeffrey Bourk and Executive Assistant Rose
Davis.
Chair Rivenbark and Chair Thompson called their respective Boards to order reporting that the purpose of
the meeting is to hear the New Hanover County Airport Authority annual report on Wilmington International Airport.
ANNUAL REPORT PRESENTATION
Airport Director Jeffrey Bourk presented the annual report highlighting the following information on the
operations, maintenance, development, and existing projects of the airport:
New Hanover County Airport Authority annual report on Wilmington International Airport (ILM):
Landside and airside - new ground leases:
Active Projects (not including Airport Authority managed capital projects):
Ground leases: three with CIL (cold storage warehouses), future hotel, and 84 Lumber
General Aviation (GA) Hangar on the westside and hangar/training facility on the eastside
Auto auction
Carwash or Bank
ILM Development Map:
More choices within the terminal at ILM:
Port City Java, Dunkin’ Donuts and Jimmy Johns, Flying Machine Brewing Company, and
new retail convenience center
Five-year capital plan:
$165 million:
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JUNE 21, 2023 SPECIAL MEETING PAGE 812
Terminal curb and roadway improvements:
November 2023 parking lot to meet current demand:
Short/long term signage improvements:
Airline Terminal expansion by 2026-2027:
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JUNE 21, 2023 SPECIAL MEETING PAGE 813
Rehabilitate Runway 6-24 and blast pads (complete 2024-2025):
Relocate Taxiway B in 2025-2026:
Various airfield projects in 2026-2027:
CFR Part 150 noise compatibility study process (Spring 2024):
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35
JUNE 21, 2023 SPECIAL MEETING PAGE 814
Master plan process:
Financial update – economic impact of ILM:
Data provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Division of
Aviation, January 2023 State of Aviation report:
13,550 jobs supported
$113 million in tax revenue
$823 million in personal income
$2.5 billion in economic impact
289,800 population within 30 minutes of airport
Estimated generation of state and local taxes from tenants and businesses using the Airport:
Business sales tax: $9,645,750
Local property tax: $6,783,605
State corporate and personal tax: $1,511,556
Property tax on based aircraft: $750,000
Economic impact of new non-stop:
Operating results:
Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget:
Operating RevenuesCapital Expenditures
Aviation 2,455,100 Annual Projects
Commission 2,605,000 Land Acquisition 500,000
Rental and Business Park 3,433,932 Debt Service 2,537,000
Expense Reimbursement 120,000Prior Year Carryover Projects
Miscellaneous 104,220Airfield 100,000
Interest 1,300,000 Terminal 8,118,596
Parking Lot 5,656,250 Business Park 4,500,001
Terminal Advertising 321,665Current Year Projects
Total Revenue 15,996,167Airfield 6,127,222
Terminal 1,250,000
Operating ExpensesBusiness Park 430,000
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35
Salaries, Wages and Benefits 5,334,000 Capital Equipment:
Building/Grounds Maint & Repair 1,158,000 Equipment 631,000
Vehicle Maint & Repair 100,000 24,193,819
JUNE 21, 2023 SPECIAL MEETING PAGE 815
Equipment Maint & Repair 257,000
Contracted Services 2,373,200
Professional Services 472,000Other Financing Sources
Equipment Leasing 32,800PFC Revenue / Reserves 4,771,056
Utilities 900,000CFC Revenue / Reserves 1,056,837
Meetings & Education 232,000AIP Discretionary 1,975,000
Air Service Development 150,000AIP Entitlement 1,418,150
Advertising / Marketing 1,328,900 State Grant 7,035,093
Departmental Office Supplies 58,000NHC Loan 2,160,000
Dues & Publications 15,000Other Federal Grants 3,795,000
Insurance 863,100 22,211,136
Uniforms 40,000
Business Park Expenses 425,000Net Capital Activity (1,982,683)
Aviation Event Expenses 25,000
Provision for Doubtful A/R 1,500
Maint, Devel & Repair Reserve 100,000Net Operating Income 2,130,667
Total Operating Expense 13,865,500
Net Operating Income 2,130,667 Required Administrative Reserve (Savings) (147,984)
Five-year funding schedule and capital plan:
Marketing and air service:
ILM’s route map – new non-stops represent 128,517 seats on an annualized basis:
Inaugurals:
thth
Delta : Boston, MA (BOS) May 27 and Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (MSP) July 15-30 -
seasonal
st
Sun Country to Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (MSP) June 1 - seasonal
ndnd
Avelo to West Palm Beach, FL (PBI) June 22, Wilmington, DE (ILG) June 22, and Tampa,
FL (TPA) June 23rd - seasonal
Monthly passenger enplanements:
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JUNE 21, 2023 SPECIAL MEETING PAGE 816
Seat capacity: June - November 2019-2023:
ILM is North Carolina’s fastest growing airport and the third fastest growing airport in the US:
General aviation operations:
Marketing and air service development:
Avelo route map and announcement:
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 35
JUNE 21, 2023 SPECIAL MEETING PAGE 817
Beer Glasses and Boarding Passes:
Sun Country Airlines route map:
Marketing:
GENERAL DISCUSSION
A brief discussion was held on how much the airport has evolved since its inception and the forthcoming
expansion, improvements, and businesses. Mr. Bourk explained how the federal and state grants have a requirement
for the recipient airport to spend the funds or risk losing them to another airport. He described how ground leases
diversify ILM’s revenue stream, allow for rates and charges to be lower, and help grow air service. He described the
processes that must be worked through for the construction projects based on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
requirements noting that local companies are used for projects, when possible, but some projects require companies
with specific aviation experience. The parking development plans will help alleviate the current parking shortage,
which includes a parking deck. Business travelers primarily used ILM, but with the addition of low cost carriers, there
has been an increase in leisure travel. Not every new route added will work and when that occurs, airlines will adjust
the routes. Mr. Bourk responded to questions stating that work continues for additional carriers to provide service
to the markets not covered by the current air service providers, such as Southwest Airlines. Chair Thompson noted
that if ILM gets a new route, it means another route in another market had to be canceled for ILM to get the flight.
A brief discussion was held about ILM’s marketing practices. Erin McNally, ILM Marketing, Air Service
Development, and Public Relations Manager, stated that the team will continue to be mindful to ensure inclusivity
as much as possible in ILM’s various marketing campaigns. Mr. Bourk stated that ILM cannot run marketing
campaigns outside of the local area. It has partnered with the Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors
Bureau/New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) to run campaigns outside of the local area in
cooperation with the airlines. He also provided an overview of ILM’s partnership with Genesis Block to register local
companies for the Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program. As part of the new
contract with airport concessionaire Faber, not less than 10% of the products purchased must be local and they
commit to purchasing those products through local Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified
ACDBE partners.
The Board and Airport Authority commended their respective staff for the work done over the years to
bring ILM to where it is today.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no further discussion, Chair Rivenbark thanked the Airport Authority members and staff for the
report. Chair Rivenbark and Chair Thompson adjourned the meeting at 9:46 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kymberleigh G. Crowell
Clerk to the Board
Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the Special Meeting of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners.