Nicky Boyette – Last week, Engineer and consultant Dan Clinton presented the Carroll County Airport Commission with preliminary plans for the next phase of expansion at the airport. His plan is to pursue two Federal Aviation Administration grants over two years. The first would be for paving an area behind the most recently-constructed hangars on the south side of the runway and in front of two buildings on the southeast of the that area. These two buildings to the far south could be used as hangars, and on the agenda was a decision for leasing one for 25 years.
The second part of the expansion would be building five “box hangars” along the perimeter of the area recently paved, with tie-downs marked off.
Clinton said he would have his plan on paper by the next meeting, and expected he could present it to FAA in September or October. He said he would work as quickly as the bureaucracy will allow, and any delays would on their schedule, not his.
Clinton also said next year is time to rehab the taxiway, and groundwork for funding has been laid.
Lease on a big hangar
One of the buildings south of the 8-bay hangar is a 60×60 oak structure with 19 years left on warranty. Chair Chase Tressler told commissioners an inspection of the premises by independent eyes revealed it had no signs of damage.
Commissioner Dane Mulligans asked, however, “What is the realistic useful life left?”
“Depends on the maintenance,” Tressler replied, but the point was made the rafters were sturdy enough for hoisting motors.
Commissioners agreed to lease the building for 25 years for $60,000 with the agreement up to $30,000 spent on refurbishing the building could be charged to the sale amount.
Tressler said CCA had already apprised prospective tenant plans to pave the area in front of building are still in development, but he was still a go on the lease.
Insurance – when is enough enough?
Commissioner Sandy Martin researched an insurance policy coming due which commissioners were not sure they needed. She said advice from county offices was that CCA did not need the policy and is covered by county liability and county tort immunity. She said further advice would be coming next week, but the word so far is to drop the policy.
Dave Teigen, former commissioner and an insurance agent, explained that commissioners had purchased excess coverage years ago to cover unexpected incidents as more expensive aircraft began to fly in. Coverage from county insurance was very low, and commissioners didn’t want to rely solely on county insurance.
Commissioners decided they wanted to see the information Martin would be getting next week before deciding.
Other items
- Manager Michael Pfeifer announced an adjacent landowner had offered to sell CCA 13 acres at the west end of the runway for $115,000. Teigen stated the offer had been made a few years ago, but the attention at that time was an eight-bay hangar. Tressler observed the property does not meet the county road, and in his opinion CCA did not have the funds for the purchase right now.
- Commissioners approved a clean-up of the by-laws by Sandy Martin. Judge Sam Barr will need to approve the changes.
- “Please let me get at least a couch,” Pfeifer implored, as discussion of furniture at the terminal began. He pointed out more and more pilots are flying in from all over, and pieces of the couches leave the county stuck to their pants. Martin pointed out a furniture purchase would not be a budgeted item, so they must find the money before they spend it. Two prospective sources in the budget were identified, and the decision was made for Pfeifer to produce a furniture plan for the next meeting.
Next meeting will be noon Friday, August 19, at CCA.