Airport Authority

Athens Ben Epps Airport Authority Meeting April 30, 2024, 3:00PM Minutes Live Stream on ACCGOV YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/live/smHeorMvluo?feature=share In attendance: Mike Mathews, Grant Tribble, David Asman, Keith Sanders, Craig Westwood, Davin Welter, Andrew Bolin (RS&H), Soyna Voice (RS&H), Jim Duguay (MBI), Mario Evans (MBI), Jim Thompson (Athens Banner Herald) Apologies: Diane Napier, Jeff Benjamin Note-taker: Davin Welter 1) Chair Update and announcements: Mr. Tribble welcomed the participants and previewed the agenda. 2) October Meeting Minutes: Mr. Tribble called for a vote on the March minutes. The March minutes were approved as submitted, per unanimous vote. Mr. Asman moved and Mr. Sanders seconded to approve the minutes. 3) Airport Manager Reports a) Financial & Operations Report: Mr. Mathews reported that our financials continue to looks strong. Some of AHN’s monthly expenses where higher for because of professional services, contract labor, and for a GPU repair. b) Capital Improvement Project Updates: Mr. Mathews said that the Taxiway Alpha project will restart next week and will last four or five months. The self-serve unit is installed and waiting on Georgia Power to hook up the unit which should occur next week. Mr. Mathews reported that the airport will be putting in taxiway markings to assist with the flow at self-serve unit. Mr. Mathews has a meeting with the FFA about the control tower about its siting and infrastructure next week. He said that control tower project will take two years. Mr. Mathews also reported that he has an agenda item submitted to the Mayor & Commission which is asking for approval for a parking lot design and a design for refurbishment of Taxiway Bravo at their May meeting. There is no current funding for the two projects from the Georgia Department of Transportation and AHN will have to pay 100% of the design costs. Mr. Mathews reported that he is going to work with ACC Finance to explore funding options to build new hangers. c) Marketing & Outreach: Mr. Welter reported that we have had several school groups tour the airport this past month. Mr. Mathews also reported that we held a successful community wide emergency response event to prepared emergency personnel for a potential accident/disaster. The event included local hospitals, the ACC Police and Fire Departments, the University of Georgia, and others. 4) Old Business a) None 5) New Business a) None 6) Standing Committees: Issues & Updates a) Business/Finance: Mr. Sanders led the Authority in a review of the Airport Strategic Plan and discussed the progress on meeting our goals. Mr. Westwood asked if we needed to add a goal about providing unleaded fuel at some time in the future. Mr. Mathews responded that it is something that we can explore.  b) Operating: Mr. Asman did not have a report. c) Air Service Development/Marketing: Dr. Napier did not have a formal report. 7) Other Business: a) The next meeting will be held on May 28, 2024, 3-5 p.m., in the conference room in the Flight Center Building. 8) Adjourn: 3:59 PM Minutes Approved, DATE: Grant Tribble, Authority Chair Davin Welter________________________