Fairhope, Al.
FOUNDING OFFICERS RESIGNING
At its July meeting, Airport Authority members unanimously voted to appoint Joe McEnerney as next chairman, Pam Caudill vice chair, and Ray Hix secretary/treasurer: to be finalized at the August 18th meeting: previously-announced resignations of Chuck Zunk, Rod Platt and Charlie Bassett become effective in September.
The Authority's attorney David Bagwell will also be leaving, but no replacement mentioned yet.
(Zunk himself blamed the imminent arrival of "grandkids" as reason for resigning; but others mention a difference of opinion with certain city leaders over the "vision" for the airport as important as well.)
OTHER MATTERS
* NEW HANGARS APPROVED
Chairman Zunk said a ground lease (plat 2) is almost ready to be signed with Executive Aviation where a second corporate hangar will be constructed.
Executive Aviation, founded by its President Kel Jones in 2007, already operates out of the airport, but needs space for more planes.
The first corporate hangar lease was approved earlier this year with Alan Boan's Cedar Creek Leasing; construction has not yet begun on that one.
Both companies offer charters, sales and various other services for private jet aircraft.
The new hangars will be located south of the exiting main hangar, on the northwest side of the runway.
Also, two other citizens have expressed interest in smaller single-plane hangars on airport property, since there is no other hangar space available, Zunk said.
* A $600K federal aviation grant has been approved to continue drainage and other ground preparation work.
* Three bids were received for fire-proof document storage lockers for Authority paperwork ($5,500 - $7,500): no final selection was made.
* The recent Air Race Classic was a success; financial impact of about $143K for the city and local business; it may want to return in 2020.
* A special "training session" may be held for new A.A. personnel on Sept. 14th.
* The FAA has indicated additional grant money of $1.5 million should become available in 2016; and $1.7 million in 2017 for expansion/development of the east side. That could be further-expedited if "one big project" is announced -- as has been rumored lately (a private aviation manufacturing company locating there?).
*Continental Motors is almost finished converting the main hangar building (front entrance) to a diesel engine manufacturing/repair facility.
MILITARY PLANE NOISE STILL AN ISSUE
The mayor says he still gets complaints from citizens about noisy military planes training above town and using the airport for 'touch n' go' landings; but the Times has learned that a pre-condition for applying for multi-million dollar federal grants is that the airport can be used for "national defense" purposes, including pilot training.
Congressman Byrne told the Times earlier this year that is what the military brass in Washington is telling him too, there is an agreement for military use.
Mayor Kant often cites "taking the politics out of it" as the prime reason for forming a separate Airport Authority ten years ago: before that the city itself ran it.
FOUNDING OFFICERS RESIGNING
 |
| July Airport Authority |
The Authority's attorney David Bagwell will also be leaving, but no replacement mentioned yet.
(Zunk himself blamed the imminent arrival of "grandkids" as reason for resigning; but others mention a difference of opinion with certain city leaders over the "vision" for the airport as important as well.)
OTHER MATTERS
* NEW HANGARS APPROVED
Chairman Zunk said a ground lease (plat 2) is almost ready to be signed with Executive Aviation where a second corporate hangar will be constructed.
 |
| Kel Jones |
Executive Aviation, founded by its President Kel Jones in 2007, already operates out of the airport, but needs space for more planes.
The first corporate hangar lease was approved earlier this year with Alan Boan's Cedar Creek Leasing; construction has not yet begun on that one.
Both companies offer charters, sales and various other services for private jet aircraft.
The new hangars will be located south of the exiting main hangar, on the northwest side of the runway.
Also, two other citizens have expressed interest in smaller single-plane hangars on airport property, since there is no other hangar space available, Zunk said.
 |
| Chairman Zunk, left |
* Three bids were received for fire-proof document storage lockers for Authority paperwork ($5,500 - $7,500): no final selection was made.
* The recent Air Race Classic was a success; financial impact of about $143K for the city and local business; it may want to return in 2020.
* A special "training session" may be held for new A.A. personnel on Sept. 14th.
* The FAA has indicated additional grant money of $1.5 million should become available in 2016; and $1.7 million in 2017 for expansion/development of the east side. That could be further-expedited if "one big project" is announced -- as has been rumored lately (a private aviation manufacturing company locating there?).
*Continental Motors is almost finished converting the main hangar building (front entrance) to a diesel engine manufacturing/repair facility.
MILITARY PLANE NOISE STILL AN ISSUE
The mayor says he still gets complaints from citizens about noisy military planes training above town and using the airport for 'touch n' go' landings; but the Times has learned that a pre-condition for applying for multi-million dollar federal grants is that the airport can be used for "national defense" purposes, including pilot training.
Congressman Byrne told the Times earlier this year that is what the military brass in Washington is telling him too, there is an agreement for military use.
Mayor Kant often cites "taking the politics out of it" as the prime reason for forming a separate Airport Authority ten years ago: before that the city itself ran it.
Comments
What is next inhaling to much air?
just ask mayor kant about the # of complaints he gets .... from rock creek, etc ...
they never land here ...contribute nothing .. just drop noise pllution on us ... then jet back to Pensacola to spend money for a beer or two ...
we get the noise, florida gets the big bucks from military bases there ... some clueless residents actually defend the scam!
If airplanes making more unnecessary noise pollution over residential neigborhoods is the 'sound of freedom' then we are all in trouble.
Sound like more tyranny by the Obama's federal government to me.
already afffected my real estate values ... we wanted peace and quiet in our last years but get only this ... just like in the big city.
In the interim, suggest you contact Mayor Kant and/or councilman Jack Burrell, both are very involved with the issue behind the scenes.
Unfortunately, lately much of the public's business is being conducted in private -- to avoid controversy and because it is easier for the politicians.
Over residential homes do not live in those homes.
Show go figure.
Remember that the only way we are going to get any peace and quiet and save our property values in Fairhope is to vote out the do nothing Mayor Kant and the current city council members on election day. Vote Kant out and vote current city council members out to save Fairhope.