Airport Commission

. . . creating a better quality of life Airport Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, February 3, 2020, 4:30 pm Murfreesboro Municipal Airport 134 Dejarnette Lane, TDK Hangar Conference Room. Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance: Steve Waldron 1) Call the meeting to order: Steve Waldron a) Listing of Airport Commission Members, Staff, and guests present Airport Commission Members: Steve Waldron, Chair George Huddleston, Jr. Vice Chair Gail Zlotky John Polk Clay Cook Butch Jones Bill Shacklett, City Council Representative Dr. Wendy Beckman, MTSU Chair, Ex-Officio Darren Duckworth, Assistant City Manager, Ex-Officio City Staff: David Ives, Deputy City Attorney Greg McKnight, City Development Services Director Katie Driver, City Staff Attorney Chad Gehrke Airport Manager Jennifer Hodgdon, Airport Administrative Aid also present: Nick Lenczycki Frank Stephenson Cindy Cook 2) Consider approval of conceptual MTSU Airport Campus Development Plan Airport Manager’s report regarding Airport Economic Development Grant for the MTSU Apron Expansion Project Chad Gehrke introduced a drawing of the proposed development plan of the MTSU Airport Campus. He reviewed with the Airport Commission MTSU’s need to address issues raised during their last accreditation review. The main issue was the number of aircraft in the Miller Lanier hangar which is where the Aircraft Maintenance Lab is located. He stated to meet the needs of the accreditation report the Lab would be expanded into the Donald McDonald Hangar. He showed on the drawing where a new hangar would be built as a replacement to house the MTSU aircraft fleet maintenance facility. He described this new facility being very similar to the Hangar 1 replacement project with a 16,000 square foot hangar and including some offices and shop/storage space.  Mr. Gehrke then described the addition of a building associated with the Jean A. Jack Flight Education Facility that would provide additional briefing space, offices, and a large classroom. He described this facility being located just west of the 727 ramp with that area now being available for MTSU aircraft parking. Mr. Gehrke stated that a long-term goal was for the construction of the largest building on the MTSU Airport Campus which would be a two-story facility with 44,000 square feet on each floor. This would be an academic building which would include labs and offices as well. Mr. Gehrke described where additional auto parking would be located and how the space between these buildings would be a quad like area to provide an attractive college campus look. Mr. Gehrke reviewed how the Tennessee Airport Development Grant would be used to provide the ramp space and Taxiway E to support the expansion of the MTSU Airport Campus and parking for their growing fleet of aircraft. Dr. Beckman described the importance of the airport campus master plan so that it could be presented to the state Planning Committee and be included in the overall MTSU campus Master Plan and be eligible for funding. Mr. Gehrke, Dr. Wendy Beckman, Nick Lenczycki, and the Airport Commission discussed various aspects of the plan and the various options that they had discussed. Mr. Gehrke stated that Ricondo Engineering was assisting the University in the creation of this development plan. Various concerns discussed was ensuring adequate parking was available. The location of the large academic building as it relates to drainage issues. The location of the building associated with the Jean A. Jack building and taking up parking spaces in the parking lot between the Jean A. Jack building and Sim Lab. The timing of when MTSU needed to have an approved plan submitted to MTSU administration. Mr. Gehrke stated that he would schedule a specific meeting so that the Airport Commission could review the latest proposed plan. 3) Consider approval of Request For Qualifications for Airport Consulting Services Chad Gehrke provided the Airport Commission a Request For Qualifications for Airport Consulting Services. He stated that these master services agreement/contracts are usually a term of 5 years. Mr. Gehrke discussed with the Airport Commission the projects that ATKINS was assisting the airport with now being the Taxiway E, MTSU apron expansion, and Taxiway F development area. The Airport Commission Members requested no changes to the Request For Qualifications document. Steve Waldron asked for volunteers to be a part of the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee would include Steve Waldron, George Huddleston, Gail Zlotky, Butch Jones, Gary Whitaker, and Chad Gehrke. 4) Airport Manager’s report regarding Terminal Project Chad Gehrke stated that windows will be installed in the lobby in the next couple of weeks. He stated that they were working toward selecting one furnishing company and selecting furniture in the coming weeks. Mr. Gehrke described a plan to remove the large standing workstation and charging station that was to be located in the middle of the lobby floor. He stated now that they have had an opportunity to actually be in the lobby area Staff is concerned that the large unit will break up the lobby and be an obstacle in the lobby during events and other possible uses of the lobby area. He stated that the unit could not be built to be movable. He stated that Jim Lowen is developing plans for another area to be  a standing working and charging station that would not be in the way of events. The Airport Commission Members stated their agreement with that plan. 5) Airport Manager’s report regarding South Terminal Development/Hangar 1 Replacement Project Chad Gehrke presented a video provided by Morgan Construction and Allan and Hoshall, Inc. the firm selected by the Murfreesboro Public Building Authority. The video was of an artistic rendering of the proposed hangar, office, and shop facility. Mr. Gehrke stated that the proposal from both firms were over budget. He stated that Morgan’s proposal had the highest associated cost but met all of the requirements for a very versatile building that could have one or multiple tenants. The Airport Commission discuss the hangar facility. Mr. Gehrke stated that it was believed that the hangar could be built with a fire suppression system that could be equivalent to a foam system meeting all City Codes. Mr. Gehrke reviewed the Grant and term of the Grant with the Airport Commission. 6) Airport Manager’s report regarding other projects. Approach Clearing Project Chad Gehrke stated that he would be submitting a request for funding from the state using federal funds to conduct very specific surveys to be able to create a plan to better manage the approach for Runway 36 on a long-term basis and not year to year. TAD CIP Chad Gehrke stated that he had completed the submittal of the airport’s CIP list but had not heard yet what projects had been included. He stated that he had included Approach Management master planning, Construction of the Taxiway F area and construction of T-hangars, pavement repair of Taxiway A and other projects. He stated that he was certain that funding for the construction of Taxiway F and especially T-hangars would not be approved. He stated that the state was increasing its pressure on airports to clear approaches which could affect future funding. Mr. Huddleston agreed with the new prioritization of approach clearing. The Airport Commission members discussed requesting state funding for crack repair work around the T-hangar ramp and the possibility of using the City-wide contract of Rollins to complete the work. Taxiway F Development Area Project (Final Design) Mr. Gehrke stated that while ATKINS owed the Airport a Work Authorization for the final design of the Taxiway F Development Area. He stated that the award of the funding for the MTSU apron expansion and Taxiway E complicated the Taxiway F final design project requiring coordination with the state. Mr. Gehrke stated that a meeting was being scheduled to get those two projects and their scope coordinated so that ATKINS can provide proper Work Authorizations. T-hangar A, B, C, D, and E Painting Project Mr. Gehrke reported that this project was complete, looks great, and Rice Construction had received compliments for the work they completed. ATLAS Mr. Gehrke stated that he was bringing in temporary help to provide Airport Staff the ability to get caught up on work and focus on the implementation of the ATLAS program.  Assistant Airport Manager Chad Gehrke stated that he was initiating the hiring process for the Assistant Airport Manager and had reviewed the job description with the Human Resources Director Pam Russell. He described the position of handling the day-to-day operations, managing operations and customer services, overseeing the daily maintenance of facilities and equipment. Mr. Gehrke stated that there continues to be more time and effort required on him to manage Grants, create Grant requests, coordinate efforts with City Hall and the State, and attend meetings some of which may be away from the Airport at City Hall. 7) Consider any other business to come before the Airport Commission Steve Waldron discussed with the Airport Commission his concern of the development of the Taxiway F area and the rent that will have to be charged for those hangars. He stated his concern over the divide in rent between the new hangars and existing hangars. He asked John Polk and Clay Cook conduct a review of existing hangar rental rates at Murfreesboro and other areas and compare those rates to replacement values. Mr. Polk and Mr. Cook agreed to assist with that study. 8) Consider next date for Airport Commission meeting March 16, 2020, 4:30 PM The Airport Commission agreed to meet on March 2nd at 4:30 pm. The Airport Commission thanked the Keachs for the use of their facilities. 9) Adjournment The Airport Commission agreed to adjourn.