2017-08-16 Regular Meeting Minutes
New Hanover County Airport Authority
August 16, 2017
Page 1
NEW HANOVER COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
REGULAR MEETING
August 16, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
The New Hanover County Airport Authority met on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, at
Wilmington International Airport, 1740 Airport Boulevard, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Chairman Lambeth called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Mr. Hickman led the Pledge of
Allegiance, and Chairman Lambeth read statement. No conflicts
of interest or potential conflicts of interest were identified at that time.
Airport Authority members present were: Carter Lambeth, Chairman; Dan Hickman, Vice-
Chairman; Donna Girardot, Secretary; Tom Barber, Harry W. Stovall, W. Lee Williams, and
Thomas Wolfe. Also present were Julie Wilsey, Airport Director; Gary Taylor, Operations
Manager; Robert Campbell, Finance Director; Whitney Prease, Facilities Director; Carol
LeTellier, Business Development Director; Rose Davis, Executive Assistant; and Wanda Copley,
New Hanover County Attorney.
Gary Broughton, Deputy Director, was absent.
Guests present included Steve Bright and Amy McLane, Talbert & Bright, Inc.; Bill Cherry and
Tom Goodwin.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Authority has reviewed the minutes of the Regular Meeting on July 12, 2017. Mr. Barber
MOVED, SECONDED by Mr. Stovall, to approve the minutes of the July 12, 2017 Airport
Authority Meeting as submitted. Upon vote, the MOTION WAS APPROVED
UNANIMOUSLY.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
FACILITIES & TERMINAL EXPANSION
Mr. Prease recommended the approval of the following action items:
Contract for DK Consultants LLC
a.Approve a contract with DK Consultants in the
amount of $50,000.00. This will provide Design, Procurement Support and Construction
Management Consulting Services. The project will replace the existing Gate 1 Passenger
Boarding Bridge (PBB) with a new PBB, including a new Pre-Conditioned Air Unit
(PCAir) and a 400Hz Ground Power Unit (GPU). Project funded by new state funding as
a grant. After some discussion, Mr. Barber MOVED, SECONDED by Mr. Stovall to
approve the contract with DK Consultants in the amount of $50,000.00. The MOTION
WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
Wet Detention Basins and Open Ditches Mitigation Impacts
b. Approve a cost NTE
$64,000.00 for Wetland Impacts of 0.30 acres, Stream Impacts of 124 lf. The FAA will
reimburse the airport 90% of the cost. Mrs. Girardot MOVED, SECONDED by Mr.
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August 16, 2017
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Wolfe to approve the Wet Detention Basins and Open Ditches Mitigation Impacts as
recommended. The MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
c.Recommended approval for the Authority Chairman to accept and approve all Federal
Grants, which include entitlements and discretionary grants, that may be received
between August 17, 2017 and September 6, 2017, the date of the next Authority meeting.
Mr. Stovall MOVED, Mr. Wolfe SECONDED to allow the Chairman to accept and
approve all Federal Grants received between August 17 and September 6, 2017. The
MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
FINANCE & HUMAN RESOURCES
Mr. Campbell June 2017 cash summary, monthly financial summary and June
financials, as well as Comparative Year End Results FY17 vs. FY16.
Mr. Campbell reported that he has completed the last requirement necessary to open an
investment account with BB&T and money should be invested within the next two weeks. The
Finance committee has discussed exploring other options in terms of maximizing returns on free
cash.
Mr. Campbell, reviewing the monthly financial summary, reported that ILM had a solid year of
operating income, with about 2/3 of that income being put back into the airport in terms of
capital improvements and the other, approximately $1M, being added to our cash balance in
preparation for the terminal expansion.
Phases I and II of the terminal expansion project and should be able to borrow up to $62M
without significantly increasing our cost per enplaned passenger. These findings are based on
the cost estimates in the 2014 terminal study.
Mr. Campbell advised that Marvin Foster, Facilities Manager, has announced his retirement after
22 years with ILM, effective September 29th. While ILM will experience the loss of his
knowledge and experience, from a financial perspective his retirement will not impact ILM
negatively.
Commissioners since ILM is looking so strong for the last fiscal year.
Mr. Barber and Chairman Lambeth expressed an interest in the Authority presenting Mr. Foster
with a plaque at the September Authority meeting to acknowledge his years of service with ILM.
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Mrs. Wilsey advised that all are invited to a drop-in reception for Mr. Foster on September 29.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Ms. LeTellier updated the Authority on the Summer E-blast that was recently sent to interested
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subscribers. Ms. LeTellier reported that Scratch on 23 catered a Chamber event which was very
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well received. Ms. LeTellier advised that Saturday, August 19 is National Aviation Day and
Ambassadors will be giving out airplane pens at the information desk and Ms. McNally has
contests planned on social media accounts.
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August 16, 2017
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Mrs. Girardot asked about the possibility of having a monument sign erected for the Flex
Building that can be seen as you drive onto the airport property so that people will know that the
businesses are there. Mrs. Girardot shared that the fear of potential tenants is that no one will
know they are there. Ms. LeTellier noted that there are several monument style green ILM signs
placed strategically around the property directing traffic to the Business Park and the Flex
that the monument sign would be cost prohibitive at this time. Ms. LeTellier shared that current
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tenants, like Scratch on 23 and KBT Realty, will be attracting a lot of foot traffic which will
increase awareness.
GOVERNMENT
Correspondent, Perry Chappell,
Mrs. Wilsey stated staff has had contact with both Senators and Representatives offices
recently about legislation pertaining to the PFC cap so they are all aware that ILM is in favor of
raising the cap on the PFC.
Mrs. Girardot reported on her luncheon with Senator Burr, who talked about the decade of
disruption starting in the next 5-10 years because of the lithium ion battery and how it is going to
totally revolutionize business and our way of life. Senator Burr suggested that all businesses,
including aviation, need to assess business plans and get ahead of it.
Regarding the DOT funding bill currently before Congress, Mrs. Girardot reported that funding
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from DOT ends September 30. Mrs. Girardot shared that the House and Senate bills are totally
different with the House bill including FAA privatization, which the Senate is opposed to,
however, the Senate passed a bill to increase PFCs and the AIP. Mrs. Girardot stated the DOT
funding bill would go to conference and that it is predicted that there will be no privatization of
the FAA; that PFCs will not pass but AIP funding will be increased but anything could happen
between now and then.
Regarding the infrastructure
happen this year but probably the first of next year and it will move quickly.
Mrs. Girardot suggested, since we had so much support from the General Assembly this year,
that we have a breakfast with our General Assembly delegation sometime in October or early
November for a review of the 2017 session and a preview of the short session coming up next
year, and Authority members agreed.
OPERATIONS & GENERAL AVIATION
Chief Taylor updated the Authority on the total revenue passengers; capacity; fuel prices and fuel
flowage.
Chief Taylor reported on the TSA Comprehensive Security Inspection noting one discrepancy
with a Letter of Investigation.
Chief Taylor added the Marine Corps harriers experienced some engine damage due to Foreign
Object Debris (FOD) several weeks ago from an undetermined source, so they are concerned
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August 16, 2017
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with all of the airports they visit, including ILM. Representatives from the Marine Corps visited
ILM and inspected the
The representatives had a couple of concerns that ILM staff have addressed and will return to
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ILM August 18 with Rolls Royce engine representatives.
Chief Taylor shared that ILM has received for 2016 the Airport Award for Training Excellence
for a small hub airport from AAAE Airport News and Training Network (ANTN) Digicast.
ILM employees far exceeded the required minimum for a small hub airport of 500 videos
viewed. ILM actually met the requirements for a large hub airport with 1,648 videos viewed.
This is the third year in a row that ILM has received this award.
Mr. Wolfe questioned whether moving the Authority meeting to midmonth would help with
Finance and Operations reporting on more current information or actuals and it was determined
that it would not be beneficial at this time.
Mrs. Wilsey shared that ILM has a table of 8 at the UNCW Economic Impact Panel meeting
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October 5 and asked anyone interested in attending to let us know. Mr. Pickering will be
attending this meeting as well.
Mrs. Wilsey shared that Mr. Broughton, Mr. Campbell and Ms. LeTellier went to Charlotte
recently for the SMART Airport Conference where they heard about new technology and what it
will do for airports. This conference was important for the Business Park and the Terminal
Expansion design and also a good opportunity to network with Charlotte airport staff.
is a WILMA Woman to
of 2017.
Mrs. Wilsey shared that Lara Bair, Dispatcher, created a Facebook page in support of local small
businesses in Brunswick County/Leland area.
the Fayetteville Pit Fire for
training and the Airport Director from Rocky Mount/Wilson airport complimented the speed,
teamwork, and technical expertise of the ILM team.
Mrs. Wilsey reported that operations staff have spent a lot of time on the airfield inspecting for
FOD. The team spent extra time on the field, looked at things a little differently, and will modify
a few things. We will probably buy a piece of equipment a FOD Boss, to pull behind a vehicle
to remove FOD.
Mrs. Wilsey reminded the Authority that the Mass Casualty Exercise is in October in lieu of
Aviation Day. There are 10 new employees within the last 6 months and it is really important to
focus on our mass casualty exercise which is required every 3 years. Our inspector may be here
to watch and observe and will provide feedback for us.
New Hanover County Airport Authority
August 16, 2017
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mrs. Girardot reported that New Hanover County has just hired a new Planning Director, Wayne
Clark.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairman Lambeth adjourned the
meeting at 5:34 p.m.
Prepared by: Respectfully Submitted:
Rose M. Davis
_______________________________
Donna Girardot, Secretary
Date of Approval: September 6, 2017