2012-02-01 Regular Meeting
New Hanover County Airport Authority
February 1, 2012
Page 1
NEW HANOVER COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
February 1, 2012
CALL TO ORDER
The New Hanover County Airport Authority met on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, at
Wilmington International Airport, 1740 Airport Boulevard, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Chairman Lennon called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m.
Airport Authority members present were John Lennon, Chairman; Charles Kays, Vice-
Chairman; Robert Rippy, Secretary; Tom Barber and Al Roseman. Also present were Jon
Rosborough, Airport Director; Julie Wilsey, Deputy Airport Director; Jim Morton, Finance
Director; Gary Broughton, Operations Director; Whitney Prease, Facilities Manager; Sandra
Routh, Executive Assistant; Wanda Copley, New Hanover County Attorney; and Steve Bright
and Amy McLane, Talbert & Bright, Inc.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Authority has reviewed the minutes of the Agenda Review and Regular Public Meeting on
January 4, 2012. Mr. Barber MOVED, SECONDED by Dr. Kays, to approve the minutesof the
January 4, 2012 Agenda Review and Regular Public Meeting as submitted. Upon vote, the
MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
ITEMS BY THE PUBLIC
There were no comments from the public.
FINANCE REPORT
ash report for the month of December. He commented there were
some substantial pay-outs to East Coast Contracting for the new credit card parking lot and to
Progress Energy for burying the VA utility line, but it was a good month.
Mr. Morton review of accounts for the month of December.
FACILITIES
Mrs. Wilsey updated Authority members on current projects, stating the RWY 6-24 PAPI project
was in progress on the airfield and should be wrapping up within the next couple of weeks; then
a flight check will have to be scheduled to get the PAPIs certified. She commented the TWY A,
D, H and F project was still on hold for the winter months, but is scheduled to resume onMarch
1, 2012. She reported the Checkpoint renovation project was still in the design stage.
Mrs. Wilsey stated there was a Letter of Agreemenforan
annual lease of 23 acres located at 3013 Acorn Branch Road to Dr. Williams for agriculture
operations in return for his maintenance of the property, to terminate upon his incapacitation or
death.
GOVERNMENT
Mr. Rosborough reported that Congress approved another temporary extension of the FAA
Reauthorization bill through February 17th, and the House and Senate conferees are considering
New Hanover County Airport Authority
February 1, 2012
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a final version of a new FAA Reauthorization bill, which is a four-year program that will have to
be approved by the full House and Senate. It will provide AIP funding of $3.35 million for each
of the four years, $190 million funding for Essential Air Service (EAS) to small communities,
and a PFC cap of $4.50 for airports (current rate). The labor issue involving AARF requirements
was removed, and the AIP federal grant matching funds for small airports drops to 90% from
95%.
Dr. Roseman questioned, in the remote possibility that federal funding was unavailable, whether
there was reserve funding available for the Blue Clay Road sewer force main easement. Mr.
Rosborough stated the possibility that ILM would not receive its $3.35 million was very remote;
however ILM has reserves available to cover the payment. Mrs. Wilsey commented that the
initiative to acquire a secondary water source has been
list with the FAA for several years; however in the remote chance that federal funding was
unavailable, state 90-10 funding would be an option through the NCDOT Aviation program.
MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Mr. Morton reported staff was continuing to focus on marketing the non-stop flight to New York
with Delta Air Lines, and also to get information out to the media and public that there will be no
disrup
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
There were no items for discussion at this meeting.
OPERATIONS REPORT
Mr. Broughton stated the total number of passengers handled in January was 55,870 (27,685
enplanements + 28,185 deplanements), which is 2.7% more than January 2011.
Mr. Broughton staJanuary was 71.6%.
The monthly fares and fuel comparisons were completed for January 2012.
Customs statistics for January:209
aircraft were cleared, which is 11.1% less than January 2011; and 1,427 persons were cleared,
which is 7.5% less than January 2011.
Mr. Rosborough commented that the passenger numbers for January being up 2% over 2011 was
promising.
He stated the airlines are doing everything they can to stay financially solvent, and those airlines
that have restructured have done very well. He indicated American Airlines was going through
reorganization right now and would probably remain in Chapter 11 for over a year. Mr.
Rosborough explained that from a global standpoint, airlines from all around the world are
positioning themselves economically with three global alliances the Star Alliance, the Sky
Team, and Oneworld to cut costs and save money, with the high cost of fuel being the driving
force.
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February 1, 2012
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Mr. Rosborough explained that when negotiating for new or additional air service, staff must
consider th
service ties in with their overall strategic plan. The bottom line, Mr. Rosborough stated, there are
a lot of changes coming, which will impact all airports, particularly the small and medium hub
airports.
ACTION ITEMS
Dr. Roseman MOVED, SECONDED by Dr. Kays, to approve the following amended Action
Items (Mrs. Wilsey added item #1, and Mr. Morton added item #2.):
1. Authorize the staff to work with the County Attorney to develop a short Lease
Agreement with Dr. Williams for the 3013 Acorn Branch farm land.
Upon vote, the MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
NOTE: During the Agenda Review prior to this Regular Public Meeting and in connection with
the request for a sanitary sewer force main easement along airport property on Blue Clay Road,
Authority members directed staff to meet with CFPUA in an expeditious manner to develop a
plan before the next Regular Public Meeting on March 7, 2012, for the airport to connect to the
Kerr Avenue water line in order to acquire a secondary water source.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There was no unfinished business to discuss at this meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business to discuss at this meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Barber MOVED, SECONDED
by Dr. Kays to adjourn. Upon vote, the MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Lennon adjourned the meeting at 6:32 p.m.
Prepared by: Respectfully Submitted:
Sandy Routh
_______________________________
Robert S. Rippy, Secretary