Airport Authority

Athens Ben Epps Airport Authority Meeting January 23, 2024, 3:00PM Minutes Live Stream on ACCGOV YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/live/Duc4VKdg3XE?feature=share In attendance: Mike Mathews, Grant Tribble, Diane Napier, David Asman, Keith Sanders, Craig Westwood, Davin Welter, Andrew Bolin (RS&H), Stephen Jaques (ACC Planning Department), Benjamin Washburn (JPC Design and Construction, LLC), Jeremy Crosby (Jones Petroleum) Apologies: Jeff Benjamin Note-taker: Davin Welter 1) Chair Update and announcements: Mr. Tribble welcomed the participants and previewed the agenda. 2) December Meeting Minutes: Mr. Tribble called for a vote on the December minutes. The December minutes were approved with a couple of minor corrections, per unanimous vote. Dr. Napier moved and Mr. Sanders seconded to approve the minutes. 3) Airport Manager Reports a) Financial & Operations Report: Mr. Mathews reported that December is much slower than the rest of the year but this is typical. The basketball charters have been strong for the month of January and we should see a pickup in traffic and sales this month. Mr. Mathews mentioned the significant rain that we had this month which has caused some issues for the Sherriff’s office. The rain did not impact AHN operations and did not seem to be a design flaw of the Runway 2-20 project. b) Capital Improvement Project Updates: Mr. Mathews said that the Runway 2-20 project is still open for the grassing of safety areas which has not taken hold. The redesigning and rebidding of the Taxiway Alpha project are moving forward and will be voted on by the Mayor and Commission soon. The fencing project is about 90 percent done and there are just a couple of punch list items to complete. We may have some additional dollars from GDOT to add more fence. The design on a new parking lot is on the capital improvement plan and will begin soon. Mr. Mathews said that he wants to kick start getting a new beacon and move it up on the capital list. The beacon will not be on the new control tower but on a stand-alone tower. The insurance certificates are needed to move forward on the Self-Serve Avgas project. AHN will be responsible for installing the concrete pad and the electrical hook up. c) Marketing & Outreach: Mr. Welter reported that we will have Youth Leadership Athens touring the airport. We will also have two elementary school groups that are scheduled for tours in the next month. 4) Old Business a) None 5) New Business a) Special use application project for a Lexington Highway future gas and convenience store which will include a new Guthrie’s restaurant was presented to the Authority by Stephen Jaques with the ACC Planning Department. Lighting was the only concern raised by the Authority. Mr. Asman suggested that we go ahead and make a recommendation to the Planning Department. Mr. Asman made a motion to recommend the project on Lexington Highway. Mr. Sanders seconded the motion. It was passed unanimously. 6) Standing Committees: Issues & Updates  a) Business/Finance: Strategic Plan Review was led by Mr. Sanders. The plan was updated to reflect that an airshow was explored. b) Operating: Mr. Asman said there was no report. c) Air Service Development/Marketing: A report on the ASD Committee Meeting was provided by Dr. Napier. Airport staff will be meeting with Breeze, American, United and Allegiant at a conference at the end of February. Mr. Mathews had asked for feedback from the committee about the presentation materials. Mead & Hunt host the conference which includes almost all of the current domestic airlines. Dr. Napier provided information about the faculty, staff, and student numbers at the University of Georgia for the materials. 7) Other Business: a) Election: i. Chair: Nomination & Vote – Mr. Tribble accepted the nomination for Chair ii. Vice Chair: Nomination & Vote – Mr. Benjamin has accepted the nomination for Vice Chair There was a motion by Dr. Napier and a second by Mr. Sanders to nominate Mr. Tribble as Chair and Mr. Benjamin as Vice Chair. The motion was passed unanimously. b) The next meeting will be held on February 27, 2024, 3-5 p.m., in the conference room in the Flight Center Building. 8) Adjourn: 4:17 PM Mr. Westwood moved and Mr. Asman seconded to adjourn the meeting. Minutes Approved, DATE: Grant Tribble, Authority Chair Davin Welter________________________