Airport Commission

Airport Commission Agenda Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 6:00 PM Civic Center, 156 E. 1st St Page 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. ADOPTION OF AGENDA a. Memo: Airport Commission 2024-07-02 Agenda Packet 2 - 10 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Minutes from May 8, 2024 11 - 12 Airport Commission - 08 May 2024 5. AIRPORT COMPLIANCE STATUS 6. ELECTION OF OFFICERS 7. AIRPORT PROJECTS 8. PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING A PETITION TO THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, DOT, FOR STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS: a. Crack fill and seal coat airport pavements; Purchase snow removal equipment; Reconstruct/strengthen & expand north ramp (including PCC pads); Reconstruct/strengthen taxiway Alpha and connecting taxiways; Reconstruct/strengthen and install taxiways, taxilanes, and access roads in the corporate hangar area and the north hangar area; Construct the northeast hangar area including connecting taxiways and access roads; Construct an access road connecting the north hangar area and northeast hangar area; Install approach lighting and replace existing runway and taxiway lighting; Complete perimeter fencing; Replace existing or install new security gates and operators; Construct an SRE and ARFF facility; Install water and sewer utilities; Clear and maintain runway approaches as stated in Wis. Admin. Code Trans §55; and any necessary related work. 9. RESOLUTION PETITIONING THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION FOR AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT AID 10. SURPLUS PROPERTY 11. 2025 BUDGET 12. AREA HANGAR RATE COMPARISON 13. HANGAR LOT 18-5 - LEASE TERMINATION REQUEST 14. COMMUNICATION AND MISCELLANEOUS 15. ADJOURNMENT  NEW RICHMOND REGIONAL AIRPORT 156 East First Street · New Richmond, WI 54017 (715)246-7735 www.nrairport.com To: Airport Commission Members From: Mike Demulling, Airport Manager Date: June 26, 2024 The next meeting of the airport commission is planned for Tuesday, July 2nd, at 6 pm at the Civic Center in New Richmond. Agenda item number 4 pertains to airport compliance status. I can confirm all required pavement inspections were completed per FAA grant assurances. Additionally, taxiway Alpha and two taxiways in the north hangar area underwent asphalt crack repair through a state project and two taxiways along with the primary runway 14-32 underwent asphalt crack repair as part of a local project in June. Additionally, the required quarterly storm water discharge monitoring was completed and documented. Trees and brush were removed by airport personnel from four water discharge sites during the last quarter. Agenda item number 5 pertains to the election of airport commission officers. A chair, vice chair, and secretary should be elected. Presently, Craig Kittel serves as the chair, the vice chair position is vacant, and the secretary position is held by Lucian Banitz. Agenda item number 6 is a discussion item. Bids were opened by the DoT for the south hangar area reconstruction project on June 13th. Two bids were received. McCabe Construction was the apparent low bidder with a project construction total of $1.253M, followed by Haas Sons at $1.318M. The engineer’s construction estimate was $1.366M. The DoT will send the bids to the Governor’s office for a finding once grant funding is secured. We anticipate this to occur by mid July. A contract can then be awarded to the low bidder. We are hopeful construction will begin in mid August. If construction is pushed later than September 1st, it is unlikely the project will occur this year, which would be a serious issue for the airport due to the pavement condition in the south hangar area. Agenda item number 7 is a public hearing for airport improvements. The airport is in the process of submitting a funding request, also known as a petition, to the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics. A petition must be submitted to determine eligibility for state and/or Federal funding. The petition includes potential projects the city of New Richmond may consider pursuing within the next five to seven years. Most airports in Wisconsin submit a petition every three or four years. A class one notice was published in the Star-Observer for the public hearing. The petition process includes a public hearing held before the airport commission, a report to the plan commission, and a resolution by the city council. The 2024 petition request includes the following projects:  Crack fill and seal coat airfield pavements. The airport spends approximately $20,000 each year to maintain the existing pavement. Every 8 years, the airport can participate in a state and FAA program to maintain additional pavement at a 5% local cost.  Purchase Snow Removal Equipment. Every 5 years, the airport is eligible to purchase a piece of snow removal equipment, such as a runway sweeper, tractor with plow, wheeled loader, or snow blower at a 5% local cost.  Reconstruct/Rehabilitate & expand north ramp (including PCC pads). This pavement was installed in stages in the years 2000, 2001, and 2005 with a life expectancy of 25 years. The pavement is undersized for the size of the aircraft using the airport and is need of improvements. This project is eligible at a 5% local cost.  Reconstruct/Rehabilitate taxiway Alpha and connecting taxiways. This pavement was installed in the year 2000 with a life expectancy of 25 years. It is scheduled for reconstruction beginning in 2026 or 2027. This project is eligible at a 5% local cost.  Reconstruct/Rehabilitate and construct taxiways, taxilanes, and access roads in the Corporate and North Hangar area. This pavement was installed in stages beginning in the year 2000, with expansions in 2005 and 2006 with a life expectancy of 25 years. This project is eligible at a 5% local cost.  Construct Hangar Area. This project includes the expansion of the northeast hangar area on an existing 44 acres of airport land to accommodate private and corporate hangars as well as aviation businesses. This project is eligible at a 5% local cost.  Construct access road connecting hangar areas. This includes the creation of a vehicle access road that will allow safe access from the west side of the airport to the east side of the airport. This road will primarily be used by aviation fuel trucks, emergency vehicles, and snow removal vehicles. This project is eligible at a 5% local cost.  Install approach lighting and replace existing runway and taxiway lighting. This project will include the removal of the existing obsolete quartz runway and taxiway lighting that was installed in 2007 and 2008 with new FAA approved LED lighting as well as the potential installation of an approach lighting system on one end of the runway. The runway and taxiway lighting is eligible at a 5% local cost. The approach lighting system is most likely a joint state/local project with the local share at 20%.  Construct perimeter fencing. The airport was partially fenced in 2004 using a Homeland Security Grant. Additional fencing was installed as funds became available using state and local funds in 2010 and 2013. Approximately 1/3 of the airport remains to be fenced. This project is eligible at a 5% local cost.  Replace existing or install new security gates and operators. This project involves the replacement of three existing automated security gates at the airport that were installed in 2004 with a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. The existing gates are malfunctioning, are no longer supported, and are considered a potential hazard. An additional automated gate will be installed to replace a manual slide gate serving the new northeast hangar area where five 60’ x 60’ hangars are planned or are already under construction along with three corporate hangars measuring 120’ x 100’.  Construct a snow removal equipment (SRE) storage and aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) facility. The airport currently maintains two storage facilities for airport equipment. The largest building is 5,000 square feet and the other is 2,500 square feet. Additionally, the airport has an on-site crash fire rescue vehicle that carries 1,000 gallons of water and 500 gallons of foam. At present, the airport has more equipment than storage space with three pieces of equipment requiring outdoor storage. Funding is available to construct up to a 12,000 square foot facility (or larger if water utilities are available for fire suppression) to house all airport snow removal equipment as well as crash fire rescue equipment at a 5% local cost. The existing storage buildings, currently valued at an estimated $350,000, could then potentially be sold and turned back into aircraft hangars.  Install water and sewer utilities. Utility installation is critical to the long term growth of the airport. Water is the most important of the two utilities. Building codes require a fire suppression system for steel frame hangars that exceed 12,000 square feet and wood frame hangars that exceed fire zones of 5,000 square feet. The airport has been approached by businesses desiring to build structures of 20,000 square feet and larger. The airport is unable to accommodate these businesses due to the lack of water for fire suppression. Studies are underway on ways to bring sewer and water to the airport from the Johnson Ford / Triple Tire area or from the Freedom Park area. The FAA will fund the portion of the project that is on airport property. This project is eligible at a 5% cost.  Clear and maintain runway approaches as stated in Wis. Admin. Code Trans §55; and any necessary related work. This item is listed on all petitions. It includes tree and obstruction removal if necessary in an effort to protect the airspace near each runway end. Item 8 on the agenda is a recommendation to the city council to pass a resolution for airport improvement aid. The commission should recommend to the council the passage of the resolution at their July 8th meeting. Item 9 pertains to surplus equipment. The airport was given a disassembled, retired military aircraft around 2018. The aircraft, built in the1950’s and known as a British Hawker Hunter, was last used as an aggressor aircraft in simulated aerial combat for the US military. A local group obtained the aircraft in the mid 2010’s with hopes of restoring the aircraft to flying status. Those hopes never materialized and the aircraft was given to the airport with the possibility of turning it into a static display. The aircraft, which is still in several pieces, has sat on a taxiway in the northeast hangar area for the last several years and it is now interfering with the development that is occurring in that area. The estimated scrap or private sale value of the aircraft exceeds the city threshold of $500 and requires approval of the airport commission and city council prior to disposal. I recommend declaring the Hawker Hunter aircraft as surplus. Item 10 pertains to the airport budget for 2025. The preliminary budget will be sent separately later this week. Item 11 pertains to a hangar rate comparison study airport intern Justin Como assembled. The report will be sent out separately later this week. Item 12 was recently added. This item pertains to hangar lot 18-5. A lease was signed by Steve Dye for hangar lot 18-5 on June 1, 2023. The lease stipulates hangar construction should commence within six months and be substantially complete within one year. Very little progress was made. Only soil borings and septic perk testing were completed to my knowledge. I contacted the representative for hangar lot 18-5 to get an update on their intentions. He indicated they will most likely not build and may want to give up their lease. The lot measures 120’ wide by 140’ deep and can accommodate a 100’ wide by 120’ deep hangar. It is the last remaining hangar space in the north hangar area and brings in $1,680 per year in lease revenue to the airport. It is my recommendation to list the hangar lot as available for lease to others. Once a new lessee is found, a lease termination will be issued to Steve Dye and a new lease will be issued to the new lessee. If you have any questions regarding the upcoming meeting, please call me at 715-246-7735 (office) (cell), or by email. Thank you! Mike  RESOLUTION PETITIONING THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION FOR AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT AID BY Common Council of the City of New Richmond St. Croix County, Wisconsin WHEREAS, the City of New Richmond, St. Croix County, Wisconsin hereinafter referred to as the sponsor, being a municipal body corporate of the State of Wisconsin, is authorized by Wis. Stat. §114.11, to acquire, establish, construct, own, control, lease, equip, improve, maintain, and operate an airport, and WHEREAS, the sponsor desires to develop or improve the New Richmond Regional Airport, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, "PETITION FOR AIRPORT PROJECT" WHEREAS, the foregoing proposal for airport improvements has been referred to the city plan commission for its consideration and report prior to council action as required by Wis. Stat. §62.23(5), and WHEREAS, airport users have been consulted in formulation of the improvements included in this resolution, and WHEREAS, a public hearing was held prior to the adoption of this petition in accordance with Wis. Stat. §114.33(2) as amended, and a transcript of the hearing is transmitted with this petition, and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the sponsor that a petition for federal and (or) state aid in the following form is hereby approved: The petitioner, desiring to sponsor an airport development project with federal and state aid or state aid only, in accordance with the applicable state and federal laws, respectfully represents and states: 1. That the airport, which it is desired to develop, should generally conform to the requirements for a Local General Aviation type airport as defined by the Federal Aviation Administration. 2. The character, extent, and kind of improvements desired under the project are as follows: Crack fill and seal coat afield pavements; Purchase Snow Removal Equipment; Reconstruct/Rehabilitate & expand north ramp (including PCC pads); Reconstruct/Rehabilitate taxiway Alpha and connecting taxiways; Reconstruct/Rehabilitate and construct taxiways, taxilanes, and access roads in the Corporate and North Hangar area; Construct Hangar Area; Construct access road connecting Hangar Areas; Install approach lighting and replace existing runway and taxiway lighting; Construct perimeter fencing; Replace existing/ install new security gates and operators; Construct SRE and ARFF facility; Install water and sewer utilities; Clear and maintain runway approaches as stated in Wis. Admin. Code Trans §55; and any necessary related work. 3. That the airport project, which your petitioner desires to sponsor, is necessary for the following reasons: to meet the existing and future needs of the airport. WHEREAS, it is recognized that the improvements petitioned for as listed will be funded individually or collectively as funds are available, with specific project costs to be approved as work is authorized, the proportionate cost of the airport development projects described above which are to be paid by the sponsor to the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (hereinafter referred to as the Secretary) to be held in trust for the purposes of the project; any unneeded and unspent balance after the project is completed is to be returned to the sponsor by the Secretary; the sponsor will make available any additional monies that may be found necessary, upon request of the Secretary, to complete the project as described above; the Secretary shall have the right to suspend or discontinue the project at any time additional monies are found to be necessary by the Secretary, and the sponsor does not provide the same; in the event the sponsor unilaterally terminates the project, all reasonable federal and state expenditures related to the project shall be paid by the sponsor; and WHEREAS, the sponsor is required by Wis. Stat. §114.32(5) to designate the Secretary as its agent to accept, receive, receipt for and disburse any funds granted by the United States under the Federal Airport and Airway Improvement Act, and is authorized by law to designate the Secretary as its agent for other purposes.  "DESIGNATION OF SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION AS SPONSOR'S AGENT" THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the sponsor that the Secretary is hereby designated as its agent and is requested to agree to act as such, in matters relating to the airport development project described above, and is hereby authorized as its agent to make all arrangements for the development and final acceptance of the completed project whether by contract, agreement, force account or otherwise; and particularly, to accept, receive, receipt for and disburse federal monies or other monies, either public or private, for the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance and operation of the airport; and, to acquire property or interests in property by purchase, gift, lease, or eminent domain under Wis. Stat. §32 .02; and, to supervise the work of any engineer, appraiser, negotiator, contractor or other person employed by the Secretary; and, to execute any assurances or other documents required or requested by any agency of the federal government and to comply with all federal and state laws, rules, and regulations relating to airport development projects. FURTHER, the sponsor requests that the Secretary provide, per Wis. Stat. §114.33(8)(a), that the sponsor may acquire certain parts of the required land or interests in land that the Secretary shall find necessary to complete the aforesaid project. "AIRPORT OWNER ASSURANCES" AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the sponsor agrees to maintain and operate the airport in accordance with certain conditions established in Wis. Admin. Code Trans §55, or in accordance with sponsor assurances enumerated in a federal grant agreement. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE _ and _ _ be authorized to sign and execute the agency agreement and federal block grant owner assurances authorized by this resolution. RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY: _ __________________________________________________ (TITLE) (TITLE) __________________________________________________________ (TITLE) CERTIFICATION I, _ _, Clerk of the City of New Richmond, Wisconsin, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a correct copy of a resolution introduced at a _ meeting of the __ ___ on , 20 , adopted by a majority vote, and recorded in the minutes of said meeting. __________________________________________________________ Clerk W:\Airports\New Richmond Regional (RNH)\Petition\03-22RNHres.docx  AGENCY AGREEMENT AND FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT OWNER ASSURANCES Department of Transportation Bureau of Aeronautics Madison, Wisconsin WHEREAS, the City of New Richmond, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, hereinafter referred to as the sponsor, desires to sponsor an airport development project to be constructed with federal aid and/or state aid, specifically, the New Richmond Regional Airport project to: Crack fill and seal coat afield pavements; Purchase Snow Removal Equipment; Reconstruct/Rehabilitate & expand north ramp (including PCC pads); Reconstruct/Rehabilitate taxiway Alpha and connecting taxiways; Reconstruct/Rehabilitate and construct taxiways, taxilanes, and access roads in the Corporate and North Hangar area; Construct Hangar Area; Construct access road connecting Hangar Areas; Install approach lighting and replace existing runway and taxiway lighting; Construct perimeter fencing; Replace existing/ install new security gates and operators; Construct SRE and ARFF facility; Install water and sewer utilities; Clear and maintain runway approaches as stated in Wis. Admin. Code Trans §55; and any necessary related work. WHEREAS, the sponsor adopted a resolution on , 20 _, a copy of which is attached and the prescribed terms and conditions of which are fully incorporated into this agreement, designating the Secretary as its agent and requesting the Secretary to act as such as set forth in the resolution, and agreeing to maintain and operate the airport in accordance with certain conditions; and AGENCY AGREEMENT ......................................................................................................................................................... WHEREAS, upon such request, the Secretary is authorized by law to act as agent for the sponsor until financial closing of this project; NOW THEREFORE, the sponsor and the Secretary do mutually agree that the Secretary shall act as the sponsor's agent in the matter of the airport development as provided by law and as set forth in the referenced resolution; provided, however, that the Secretary is not required to provide legal services to the sponsor. By: SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION David M. Greene, Director (Date) Bureau of Aeronautics FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT OWNER ASSURANCES ........................................................................................................ WHEREAS, the sponsor does agree to the conditions established in Wis. Admin. Code Trans §55, and for projects receiving federal aid, to the attached federal sponsor assurances, which are a condition of a federal grant of funds. The federal block grant owner assurances shall remain in full force and effect throughout the useful life of the facilities developed under this project, but in any event not to exceed twenty (20) years from the date of the finding (except for land projects, which shall run in perpetuity); Acceptance: The sponsor does hereby accept the agency agreement and the federal block grant owner assurances. Sponsor: The City of New Richmond, Wisconsin Name Name Title Title Date Date W:\Airports\New Richmond Regional (RNH)\Petition\03-22RNHres.docx  Airport Commission Meeting Minutes 6:00 PM - Wednesday, May 8, 2024 Council Chambers The Airport Commission of the City of New Richmond was called to order on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 6:00 PM, in the Council Chambers, with the following members present: PRESENT: Craig Kittel, Matt Brotzler, Josh Ulrich, Mike Montello ABSENT: Mary Hailey, Kirk Hexum, Lucian Banitz OTHERS Noah Wiedenfeld, Rae Ann Ailts, Mike Demulling, Mary Kay Rice, Robert Rice, PRESENT: Kristy Johnson CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA Mike Montello made a motion to adopt the Agenda as presented. Matt Brotzler seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mike Montello made a motion to approve the Minutes from January 10th, 2024. Josh Ulrich seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. AIRPORT COMPLIANCE STATUS Mike Demulling, Airport Manager, reported that all required inspections and stormwater discharge monitoring were completed as required since the last meeting. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Postponed until next meeting. AIRPORT FIVE YEAR FACILITIES PROJECTS Mike Demulling presented all the anticipated airport projects and maintenance for the next five years through the Summer of 2029. An additional topic of interest that came up was the option of bringing water to the Northeast area of the airport that will be having new construction. It was brought up that this is already part of the Master Plan and will be highlighted at future Master Plan Committee meetings. Airport Commission Meeting May 8, 2024 ELECTRICAL UTILITY INSTALLATION - NORTHEAST HANGAR AREA Mike shared the plan and cost for the installation of the of utilities in the Northeast hangar area. Unfortunately, the airport is considered to be a land developer and must bear the cost of the utility installation. The cost of the single phase service is $52.000. Mike Montello made a motion to apply for COVID funding from the FAA in the amount of $49,000 and use $3.000 from the airport operating budget. Josh Ulrich seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. LEASE OF LAND IN THE NORTHEAST HANGAR AREA Mike presented information on an application received from Strix Aero for hangar lot 24-1. The hangar is 100' x 100' and requires Airport Commission approval. Mike Montello made a motion to approve the application received and issue a lease to Strix Aero for hangar 24-1. Josh Ulrich seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. COMMUNICATION AND MISCELLANEOUS Mike shared that there is a Fly-In Car Show on May 18th from 7:30am - 11:00am. Tis the season - every Wednesday, the airport will be hosting a cookout from 12-1pm. Free will donations are welcomed. This year, they are adding one Thursday night a month to host a cookout as well. The first one will be on June 6th. ADJOURNMENT Mike Montello made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:20pm. Craig Kittel seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. Airport Commission Meeting May 8, 2024