Airport Authority Meets (Feb. 17 2009)

The following were discussed: 1)The Wetlands Mitigation Preliminary Report. The contractor reported the airport wetlands were "in bad shape" but they could be fixed; and are a viable site for a mitigation bank. The "service area" would stretch north past Daphne, south to Orange Beach, east to Fish River and west to Theodore. The contractor recommended the next step: taking his findings to the Army Corp. of Engineering for their input (yea/nay/maybe). A lengthy discussion followed about the County's plan to improve drainage culverts under CR 32 and it's potential effect on the airport property/ proposed wetland mitigation bank--downstream. Further consideration was deemed necessary and no action was taken by the Authority. 2) A "Mission Statement" for the Authority was adopted--as directed by the City Council. One member suggested it be modified "later" to be more "ecologically friendly." 3) Establishing an Aviation Vocational Academy was discussed. There was to be a meeting tomorrow--8:30AM, Nix Center-- with the County School Board and other interested parties. The Academy would primarily serve high school students; but the "problem is funding, as usual"--according to one Member present. 4) The proposed new General Aviation Terminal was discussed. According to Chairman Zunk, it would cost between $600K to $1.6 million; but some matching funding possibly could be obtained from the FAA/state. One Member expressed concern--given current national economic conditions-- the Authority would not be able to take over the nearly $500,000 yearly debt service the City is currently funding for it --within the agreed to (remaining) 3.5 year time frame; and worried about any more spending by the Authority (Zunk essentially concurred). 5) A financial report was given by Chairman Zunk. The checking account contained $159K, $245K was in the construction fund, and $200K in a CD-- for a grand total of $445K (end of Jan.). The authority was "tracking on budget" according to Zunk. (6 Chairman Zunk revealed the Mayor will nominate Howard Hadley--CEO and President of Segers Aero. Corp.--to fill a currently vacant seat on the Authority; and that his own term as Chairman will expire this Sept. Segers Aero. Corp. owns property/real estate near the Airport--currently the location of its North American Headquarters--according to earlier media reports. legitimate corrections appreciated

Comments

Anonymous said…
ths thing's going nowhere. time to pull the plug. we cant afford it anymore
Anonymous said…
Think of all the great projects like road improvements, sidewalks, new parks, garbage trucks, etc, etc, just our half million dollar debt service on this thing would have funded!!
Anonymous said…
I hate to state the obvious but that land the city bought down there is worth a lot less than whatt we paid for it 2 years ago. Theres a global financial meltdown you know. Need a bailout!
Anonymous said…
why dont we just move the golf course out there, if the one a quail creeks no good anyway. kill 2 birds with one stone