2017-11-17 Special Meeting Minutes
New Hanover County Airport Authority
November 17, 2017
Page 1
NEW HANOVER COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
SPECIAL MEETING
November 17, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
The New Hanover County Airport Authority held a special meeting on Friday, November 17,
2017, at Wilmington International Airport, 1740 Airport Boulevard, Wilmington, North
Carolina. Chairman Lambeth called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
Airport Authority members present were: Carter T. 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 Broughton, Deputy
Director; Robert Campbell, Finance Director; Whitney Prease, Facilities Manager; Carol
LeTellier, Business Development Director; A. Granseur Dick, Planning & Development
Director; Rose Davis, Executive Assistant; and Wanda Copley, New Hanover County Attorney.
CLOSED SESSION
Chairman Lambeth called for a motion, pursuant to NCGS §143-318.11(a)(4), for the Authority
to go into closed session to discuss matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or
other businesses served by the public body for the purpose of economic development. Mr.
Barber MOVED, SECONDED by Mr. Wolfe for the Authority to go into closed session. THE
MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
Joseph Pickering, Air Service Consultant with Mead & Hunt, joined the meeting by conference
call.
Mrs. Wilsey announced that staff had been working over the last 48 hours on a Revenue
Guaranty Agreement with United for service to Chicago and Washington Dulles starting April
2018, noting that this is a new agreement for ILM because it is for the Small Community Air
Service Development Grant (SCASDG) with USDOT. In that grant there is a $750,000 USDOT
contribution and a $200,000 local match from local businesses. Mrs. Wilsey pointed out that
this is a Minimum Revenue Guaranty (MRG) Agreement that locks ILM in with United for
service for a year that runs in accordance with a 12 month extension on our current grant, which,
when extended, will expire January 2019.
Copies of the Agreement were provided to the Authority for review and comment. Discussion
followed with input from Mr. Pickering, Mrs. Copley and staff regarding the negotiation process
and details of the agreement and what this means to ILM and the community.
Mrs. Wilsey pointed out that staff was able to negotiate down the amount required for the
Certified Letter of Credit to $200,000, which will cover the amount committed to by community
partners.
Mrs. Wilsey shared talking points for the Authority to use regarding notification to key
community partners.
The conference call with Mr. Pickering was ended.
New Hanover County Airport Authority
November 17, 2017
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Mr. Wolfe MOVED, SECONDED by Mr. Stovall for the Authority to return to open session.
THE MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
OPEN SESSION
Mrs. Girardot MOVED, SECONDED by Mr. Barber that the Authority approve an Economic
Development opportunity to bring United Airlines to ILM in 2018. THE MOTION WAS
APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
Discussion followed regarding talking points and timing of notification to key community and
legislative partners.
Mr. Barber MOVED, SECONDED by Mr. Wolfe for the meeting to be adjourned. The meeting
was adjourned at 8:30 am.
Prepared by: Respectfully Submitted:
Rose M. Davis
_______________________________
Donna Girardot, Secretary
Date of Approval: December 6, 2017