MINUTES AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE COLUMBUS AIRPORT
COMMISSION HELD AT THE COLUMBUS AIRPORT
THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 AT 5:30 P.M.
The following Commission members were present for the entire meeting.
NAME EXPIRES
Mr. Winfield G. Flanagan,
Chairman December
31, 2018
Mr. Kerry W. Hand, Vice
Chairman December
31, 2017
Mr. Thomas G. O. Forsberg,
Treasurer December 31, 2015
Mr. Carl Rhodes, Jr. December 31, 2019
Staff members present:
Richard C. Howell, A.A.E., Airport Director
W. Donald Morgan, Jr., Legal Counsel
Mary Scarbrough, Secretary
Jennifer Wright, Propeller?s Manager
Leilini Paleafei, Propeller?s
Lorrie Brewer, Chief Accountant
Michele Renfroe, Flightways Columbus, Co-Manager
Melissa Chadwick, Chief of Public Safety
Andre? Parker, Public Safety
Demetrius Henry, Public Safety
Others present:
Chris Badcock, Tom Bryan, Carson Cummings
BUSINESS OF THE MEETING
The meeting was called to order by Mr. Winfield Flanagan at 5:30 PM.
Mr. Flanagan introduced and welcomed Mr. Carl Rhodes, Jr. and Mr. Chris Badcock
to the Columbus Airport Commission Board.
Mr. Howell also, welcomed both Mr. Rhodes, Jr. and Mr. Badcock.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Mr. Kerry Hand to approve the minutes as amended for the May 28, 2015
as presented; seconded by Mr. Thomas Forsberg and unanimously approved by the
Commission. Ayes: 3 / No: 0
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2015 FEDERAL AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
(AIP) GRANT FOR THE COLUMBUS AIRPORT
Mr. Howell reported Airport Administration has been working with the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) on this year?s Airport Improvement Program (AIP)
entitlement grant. The Atlanta Airports District Office (ADO) has offered
$32,238.00 of the Airport?s annual entitlement funding to support an inventory
obstructions of the approach ends of runway 6/24. Total project cost for the
runway 6/24 inventory will be $35,821.00.
The grant offer must be accepted, executed and returned to the ADO by July 9,
2015.
Staff recommends approval of the Fiscal Year 2015 Federal Airport improvement
Program Grant for the Columbus Airport.
Motion by Mr. Thomas Forsberg to approve the Fiscal Year 2015 Federal Airport
Improvement Program Grant for the Columbus Airport: seconded by Mr. Kerry Hand
and unanimously approved by the Commission. Ayes: 3 / No: 0
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSION FEE SCHEDULED FOR THE COLUMBUS AIRPORT
Mr. Howell stated as part of the Fiscal Year 2016 budget process the Commission
adopted a comprehensive fee schedule. A study by Airport Administration found
the Commission was not being compensated for many basic services that other
airport organizations would collect for. The goals of the schedule was to
establish a fee structure that compensated the Commission for all services and
to provide guidance to staff so as to provide consistency in charging. The fee
schedule will go into effect with the budget on July 1, 2015. We propose
moving the implementation date to August 1, 2015.
In conjunction with the fee schedule, Airport Administration has been
developing a Flightways Rewards Program for our tenants to participate in. The
goals of that program are to provide a medium for our best customers to
continue to receive complimentary services while encouraging our other tenants
to use Flightways Columbus to a greater extent. This program is planned to be
presented at the July 2015 Commission meeting for implementation on August 1,
2015. It is presently being reviewed by the General Aviation Committee.
Airport Administration feels that while it is critical to implement the fee
schedule it is also important that we recognize we have many loyal customers
who consistently purchase goods and services from the Commission. Part of the
Reward Program mission is to do this. To that end, it is recommended that the
fee schedule implementation be delayed until the rewards program can be rolled
out.
Staff recommends approval of the Commission Fee Schedule for the Columbus
Airport.
Motion by Mr. Thomas Forsberg to approve the Commission Fee Schedule for the
Columbus Airport was made: seconded by Mr. Kerry Hand and unanimously approved
by the Commission. Ayes: 3 / No: 0
CONSIDER APPROVAL FOR THE OBSTRUCTION INVENTORY WORK ORDER WITH REYNOLDS, SMITH
AND HILL (RS&H)
Mr. Howell reported in the first week of June 2015, the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) Airports District Office (ADO) advised Airport Management
that the FAA is ready to proceed with an AIP grant this year to inventory all
obstructions to runways 6/24. This would be the first step in removing said
obstructions. For the grant to move forward this year, the FAA required an
executed Work Order (WO) for RS&H to do the inventory. The WO was scheduled to
be on this June 25, 2015 agenda for normal review and approval. However, FAA?s
timing did not allow for that process. After consulting with Airport Counsel
Don Morgan and conferring with Commission members, the Airport Director
executed the WO on behalf of the Commission and brings the action to the
Commission for ratification.
For a number of years, the Commission has had discussions with the ADO
regarding off-airport obstruction removal. A clearing project was conducted in
2001 and another was planned for 2010 that was never performed. Through
negotiation, the FAA has agreed to participate in a new AIP project to remove
obstructions off the ends of runways 6/24 over the next three years. We are
also performing the same work on runways 13/31, but due to Federal policy, ADO
will not participate financially in work on that runway.
Services to be provided by RS&H are:
1. Aerial survey.
2. Obstruction analysis to include integration with previous work from 2001 and
2010.
3. Generation of reports and files to support next step of project design in FY
2016.
For all services RS&H has proposed a lump sum fee of $ 44,926.00. Of that,
$35,821.00 will be associated with runway 6/24. Funding for this portion will
come from a Federal AIP grant (90%), Georgia DOT contract (5%) and the Airport
Enterprise fund (5%) with the Enterprise fund to be reimbursed later with
Passenger Facility Charge collections. The remaining $9,105.00 for runway
13/31 will be funded by the Enterprise fund to tentatively be reimbursed later
with Passenger Facility Charge collections and 5% from Georgia DOT.
Staff recommends approval to ratify Mr. Howell?s signature on the obstruction
inventory work order with Reynolds, Smith and Hill in moving forward.
Motion by Mr. Kerry Hand to approve the obstruction inventory work order with
Reynolds, Smith and Hill was made: seconded by Mr. Thomas Forsberg and
unanimously approved by the Commission. Ayes: 3 / No: 0
DIRECTORS REPORT
Mr. Howell introduced Ms. Lorrie Brewer, to provide a financial update.
FINANCE
Ms. Lorrie Brewer provided the following information:
The Airport sustained an overall loss of $(10,685) with an adjusted net profit
(without depreciation, amortization, grant or PFC revenues) of $146,771 in May.
Year over year it amounts to an increase in profit over 60% in comparison to
May of last year in which we had an adjusted net profit of $88,174 (see Summary
of Airport Revenues & Expenses).
Propellers Restaurant sales were down by approximately $1K again this month
compared to this month last year; however, Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and other
expenses were held down again this month causing the impact to be far less
significant than last year?s.
Flightways sales decreased a little over $31K compared to May of last year.
Their COGS and expenses were again held down resulting in an increase in net
income over last year. Fuel sales and flowage fees were down compared to last
year; rental fees were up compared to last year this time as well, mainly due
to actual rents being available at the time of closing.
Compared to this month last year, labor and benefits expenses were down
approximately $44K; repairs and maintenance expenses were up about $12K;
utilities and other services expenses again showed little change; insurance
costs were down around $1K and administrative expenses were down by $4K over
last year.
Update on Airport Improvement Project 39:
AIP 39?Construct Airport Perimeter Fencing & Wildlife Hazard Management:
Balance: $1,226,100.00. (No activity.)
Cash flow was positive for the month (see the Cash Flow Summary).
Mr. Kerry Hand inquired for clarification on expenses, if the report provided
included general aviation, tenants, and all expenses in the total expenses?
Ms. Brewer stated yes her report did include all expenses.
Mr. Howell thanked Ms. Brewer for a job well done.
PROPELLERS
Ms. Jennifer Wright provided the following information.
? Sales were down around $1150.00 compared to 2014. Drink sales were barely
up. Beer sales increased 14%. Vending sales increased 17%. Food sales
decreased by 24%.
? Total expenses decreased 35% compared to 2014. COGS was down 35%.
? Total net income loss for May 2014 was $6,400. May 2015 total net income
loss was $1,800. Jennifer Wright and Propeller?s staff cut the net loss by 71%.
? Propeller?s customer service survey has been completed. In 2014 the
benchmark was set at 91% excellent service based on the server. 2015 customer
service based on speed, friendliness and knowledge increased 4%. Food quality
in 2014 was at 78%. 2015 it has decreased by 6%. Customers? responses covered
quality and variety of food, beverages and menu. In 2014 Propeller?s received
82% excellence on the appearance, atmosphere and cleanliness. 2015 it has
increased by 5%.
? Jennifer Wright and Propeller?s staff will devise a plan to tackle the areas
that were deficient.
Mr. Howell stated regarding the vending machines, Ms. Wright has moved the
vending machines to a more visible area in the airport. the reduction in the
flight schedule contributes TO lower sales in the restaurant and vending
sales. In the purchasing a cold vending machine, this will provide the
customers with more of an option for foods when the restaurant is closed. We
feel this will increase the sales.
Mr. Howell congratulated Ms. Wright for her good work.
FLIGHTWAYS COLUMBUS
Ms. Michele Renfroe provided the following information.
? Fuel gallons pumped year over year comparison:
Fuel item Gallons pumped May 2015 Gallons pumped
May 2014 Change
Auto 212 221 -4%
AVGAS 7,921 10,138 -28%
Diesel 133 144 -8%
Jet A (Express Jet) 9,776 16,842 -72%
Jet A (Retail) 17,404 13,783 26%
Jet A (Contract) 7,370 6,424 15%
Jet A (Gov?t/Mil) 6,054 2,578 134%
Jet A (Justice Flights) 6,777 13,113 -93%
? Justice Flight numbers are still going strong for Flightways Columbus. The
number of aircraft handled in the month of May of 2015 (16) compared to May
2014 (9).
? Darryl and I along with the ARFF station had 66 kids from one school in the
month of April for the Airport Field trips. The ages ranged from 4 to 12 years
of age. Autism adventures also visited FWC, Delta and TSA for their 3rd field
trip with 17 children. Jai and Lai with Propellers catered the event. We had
12 men with the adult Easter seals program who was also on our list of visitors
for the month of May.
We said good bye to two of our Customer Service Representatives. Amanda
Renfroe who had been with the Airport since June 2010 has moved to Dahlonega
Georgia. Kaylyn Alexander who had been with the Airport since February 2013
will say ?I Do? on Sunday and will be moving to Aspen Colorado. Amanda and
Kaylyn were both great assets to the Columbus Airport and were very dedicated
to their jobs. They will be greatly missed by management, employees and
customers of FWC.
Mr. Howell reported there has been a bench mark survey to Flightways Columbus
customers. He has received the results and the reviews have been great, and
they are doing an awesome job at Flightways Columbus. Also, there is a Tenant
survey out in the field and will wrap up in the next few weeks, and it will be
a bench mark survey too. This information will be shared more in depth in the
near future.
Mr. Howell provided the following fiscal year 2015 air service development
recap.
Understanding that many in the community are interested in the Commission?s
progress on air service recruitment, and the impending end of the current FY, I
wanted to take a moment recap our efforts for FY 2015.
For our audience, I want to preface my comments with some education.
Discussing air service recruitment is a sensitive topic for the airlines we are
reaching out to. I have experienced air service deals that failed due to
confidential information being released at an inappropriate time. This being
the case, while we don?t publically discuss our air service recruitment
efforts, this doesn?t mean they are not ongoing.
In the fall of 2014, the Commission made application to the Federal Department
of Transportation (DOT) for a Small Community Air Service Development Program
Grant. The program is designed to provide financial assistance to small
communities in order to help them enhance their air service by addressing air
service and airfare issues. The Department provides this assistance in the form
of monetary grants that are disbursed on a reimbursable basis. The Commission
was awarded the largest single grant of $750,000 to develop new routes through
an airline revenue guarantee. The grant was written by our air service
consultant, Sixel Consulting Group (SGC) using information provided by the
Commission.
In the last twelve months, airport staff in conjunction with SCG, has
participated in sixteen separate meetings with eleven different airlines
including all the major carriers except Southwest. We have not met with
Southwest due to the airline?s business model which at this time is not
conducive to serving the CSG market. The focuses of all these meetings were to
recruit service meeting our air service goals:
1. Connecting service from CSG to Charlotte
2. Connecting service from CSG to a new major airline hub city
3. Direct service to Florida
Along with these formal meetings our consultant Sixel Consulting Group has had
frequent informal meetings with planners from airlines we are interested in.
At this time we are optimistic of a positive outcome to our efforts in the
future.
OTHER MATTERS
Mr. Carson Cummings stated both he and Mr. Tom Bryan are involved with a
developer out of Atlanta, The Retail Partners, trying to redevelop the
southeast corner of Armour Road and Manchester Expressway. For some time they
have spoken to the airport authority regarding leasing that corner space. The
stipulation came to signage. The developer needs the current sign removed.
The airport authority came back stating they needed the sign, which Mr.
Cummings agreed he understands their request and need regarding the sign. The
last proposal sent to the airport included a larger type marquee type sign.
The feedback received was the Commission did not want it to look like the
airport, would be part of the development. Today Mr. Cummings received more
feedback from the developer, with an offer for a LED lite sign. This is a nice
piece of property for a national fast food restaurant and maybe another
national developer next to it. The developer is really open to work out an
agreement for satisfaction between the developer and the Commission.
Mr. Hand inquired if Mr. Cummings is speaking about a LED sign with space
available for the airport. What type of sign is up for discussion, how much
space will be for the airport?
Mr. Forsberg asked if the sign will be in the flight path.
Mr. Cummings stated he does not know if the sign could be in the flight path.
There could be a possibility of having two signs. He is interested to know if
there are some other plans that might be beneficial for both parties, and
appreciates the consideration.
Mr. Flanagan stated the Columbus Airport Commission will review this matter and
get back with him with answers.
Mr. Bryan believes there may be some miscommunication concerning this matter.
He has been a part of the airport since 1979. We want to know what can be done
for our and your goals to make this work. You have a space on the corner to
park about eleven cars, which is what we need the space for. If a sign is the
problem, tell us what you want, to make this piece of property be a
multimillion dollar development.
Mr. Howell said the awareness of the sign came later during these
conversations. To his knowledge the Columbus Airport Commission is not in the
position of standing in the way of the development. Today is the first time
the Commission as a whole has had the opportunity to discuss this matter. He
will follow up with the Commission and will be in contact with both Mr.
Cummings and Mr. Bryan.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 6:02 P. M.
APPROVED:
____________________________ _____________________________
Mary Scarbrough, Secretary
Winfield G. Flanagan, Chairman
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