Westmoreland County Airport Authority. Committee and Regularly Scheduled Meeting Sept. 8, 2009

Transcription

1 Committee and Regularly Scheduled Meeting Sept. 8, 2009 Arnold Palmer Regional Airport 1 Rostraver Airport

2 Committee Meeting Authority Chairman Anthony Ferrante called the committee meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. TSA Executive Director Gabe Monzo reported that the Transportation Security Administration has reversed its decision to remove security screening equipment from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. The directive had been delivered in a letter following the departure of Mesaba Airlines, which ended Northwest Airlink service between Arnold Palmer Regional and Detroit Metropolitan Airport on July 31, 2009, concluding more than four years of daily scheduled air service. After careful consideration, and some concerns expressed by the authority, they have rescinded their order to take the screening equipment out of the airport, Mr. Monzo said. They have notified us that they will keep the equipment here as long as we have charter service available. Mr. Ferrante commended Mr. Monzo for his efforts in petitioning the TSA to retain the equipment for use in screening charter flight passengers, which continue to use the airport. Good job on that, Mr. Ferrante said. Customs Mr. Monzo reported that, from the best estimate I can get, it is going to cost somewhere in the range of $200,000 a year to have customs service available at Arnold Palmer Regional. We are now going to try to determine whether there is any grant funding available to accomplish this. If we can get some type in grant for the first year, it would give us some idea of how it is going to be used. Just keep going with it, Mr. Ferrante said. On another matter, Authority Secretary Don Rossi noted that he has heard from users of the Atlantic City charter flights that single-day trips would be a welcome addition to the trips currently offered. Rostraver Airport - Gas Wells/Conditional Use Approvals Mr. Monzo presented the solicitor with a proposed agreement between the authority and Range Resources, based on negotiated deep-gas rights from Kriebel Resources, which is currently under an agreement with the authority for gas rights and collecting shallow gas at Rostraver Airport. Range is proposing installation of a deep-well operation at the airport, on the Allegheny County side of the runway. The authority will consider approval of the agreement during the regular meeting. Arnold Palmer Regional Airport 2 Rostraver Airport

3 Mr. Monzo also reported that he attended a Rostraver Township Commissioners meeting to represent five small airport-related business currently operating at Rostraver Airport. Commissioners granted conditional-use approvals for all of the tenants involved in the request. AIP Grants Mr. Monzo reported that the authority has received roughly $1.2 million for Arnold Palmer Regional and about $164,000 for Rostraver Airport in Airport Improvement Program funds from the Federal Aviation Administration. The larger amount will be used to acquire a new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle and an initial phase of improvements to the main access road at Arnold Palmer Regional. The smaller amount will be used to complete additional work on the Taxiway Lighting and Signage Upgrade project at Rostraver, for which previous funding had been insufficient. Gas Station Demolition Mr. Monzo reported on a notice from Rostraver Township concerning the site of a defunct gas station that the authority acquired in a property acquisition for the Runway Safety Area project. Rostraver Airport personnel had roped the area off with steel cables, but they were removed and the site was used for illegal dumping. Plans now call for the site to be cleared and the building to be demolished. Mr. Monzo said Loyalhanna Environmental Services determined there are no underground fuel storage tanks at the site. The company submitted a proposal for demolition of the building and clearing of the site. Mr. Monzo will solicit additional quotes and report back to the authority Property Committee Budget Mr. Monzo said preparations are underway for the 2010 tentative budget, to be presented at the authority s October meeting at Rostraver. We have received word from the county that they want no increase, and we ll be working on that throughout the month. Pinnacle Airlines/SCASD Mr. Monzo said he met with Pinnacle Airlines concerning United Express service to Washington/ Dulles International Airport. They were very interested in this region and in this community and they were familiar with our operation, he said. In turn, they have written a letter of support to accompany our application for a $400,000 Small Community Air Service Development grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to be supplemented with a $100,000 in local share. That is huge, at this time, Mr. Monzo said. I think it s amazing that they are doing this and I think that the community will respond accordingly. We need to get the word out to the businesses in this region about how important this is to them. One of the major things about this is that it s an omni-directional hub, which is the best that we can ask for. Arnold Palmer Regional Airport 3 Rostraver Airport

4 Regular Meeting The Regularly Scheduled Meeting of the was held Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, at 9 a.m. at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity Township, Pennsylvania, in accordance with notice given. Authority Chairman Anthony Ferrante led the Pledge of Allegiance, called the meeting to order and directed that the following members be recorded as present: Anthony Ferrante - Chairman R. Geraldine Drake - Vice Chairman Donald Rossi - Secretary Oland Canterna - Asst. Secretary/Treasurer Mark Gera Edward Kilkeary Jr. Arnold Palmer Janice Smarto Also present were: Authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo; Attorney Donald Snyder of McDonald, Snyder & Lightcap, authority solicitor; Edward Nasuti of Lee-Simpson Associates, authority engineer; Donald Doc Giffin, accompanying Mr. Palmer; reporters A.J. Panian of the Tribune-Review and Marie McCandless of the Latrobe Bulletin; and authority administrative staff Linda Brasile, Lorraine Polinksy and Dwayne Pickels. Approval of Minutes Upon the motion of Ms. Drake, seconded by Mr. Canterna, minutes from the Aug. 11, 2009, committee and regular meetings were unanimously approved. Public Comments None Arnold Palmer Regional Airport Treasurer s Report by Mr. Canterna Mr. Canterna reviewed financial statement, expenses disbursed and accounts payable for August, 2009, for Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. Upon the motion of Ms. Drake, seconded by Mrs. Smarto, financial statement, expenses disbursed and accounts payable for August, 2009, for Arnold Palmer Regional Airport were unanimously approved (copies attached). Arnold Palmer Regional Airport 4 Rostraver Airport

5 Rostraver Airport Treasurer s Report by Mr. Canterna Mr. Canterna reviewed financial statement, expenses disbursed and accounts payable for August, 2009, for Rostraver Airport. Upon the motion of Ms. Drake, seconded by Mrs. Smarto, financial statement, expenses disbursed and accounts payable for August, 2009, for Rostraver Airport were unanimously approved (copies attached). Chairman s Report None Committee Reports None Engineer s Report by Edward Nasuti Arnold Palmer Regional Airport Corporate Hangar Area Project - Contract No Mr. Nasuti reported that Arcon Contracting continues to work on the project. A substantial completion inspection of the new T- hangars last week yielded a punch list of items to be completed prior to tenants relocating from existing hangars to allow the contractor to proceed with demolition of the existing hangars. Tenants are expected to begin moving in on Monday, Sept. 14. Completion is still slated for the end of September or the first week of October. Rehabilitate Air Traffic Control Tower - Contract No Mr. Nasuti reported that the contractor, Darr Construction Inc., is proceeding well and nearing completion. At airport management s request, the contractor has prepared an estimate for replacing landscaping stone around the base of the tower. Total cost is $2,545, and the additional work is eligible for state and federal funding, leaving the authority s share at $65, Mr. Nasuti said, recommending approval of the change order. Upon the motion of Mr. Rossi, seconded by Ms. Drake, Change Order No. 2 was unanimously approved in the amount of $2,545 to Darr Construction for the ATC Rehab project. Final inspection is slated for Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 11 a.m. Upgrade MALSR and Terminal Utilities Upgrade - Contracts Nos. 94 & 95 Mr. Nasuti said that contractor Dave Kronenwetter is scheduled to begin work on the MALSR project today and on the Terminal Utilities project by next week and both projects are expected to take three to four weeks to complete. Arnold Palmer Regional Airport 5 Rostraver Airport

6 Acquire Snow Removal Equipment - Final inspection of the vehicle was held last week, Mr. Nasuti said, recommending acceptance of the project. Upon the motion of Mr. Rossi, seconded by Ms. Drake, the Snow Removal Equipment acquisition project was accepted as complete and final payment was authorized unanimously. Sanitary Sewer System Upgrade - Contract No. 97 Mr. Nasuti reported that a pre-construction meeting was held at the airport on Sept. 2 and the contractor, Insite Pipe Contracting L.P. of Harmony, Pa., anticipates starting work in late September with completion expected to take about one month. Acquire ARFF Vehicle - Contract No. 98 Mr. Nasuti reported that federal grant funding for the project has been confirmed and contract documents were sent to the sole bidder, Osh Kosh Corporation. Upon completion of those documents, a notice to proceed will be issued. Rehabilitate Main Access Road - Contract No. 86 Mr. Nasuti reported that contract documents have been received from Michael Facchiano Contracting Inc. of Pittsburgh, and a pre-construction meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 10 am. Work - which consists primarily of installation of drainage components - is expected to be completed this fall. Rostraver Rehabilitate Parallel Taxiway Lighting and Signs (Phase II) - Contract No. 18 Tech Services Inc. completed work on the project and a final inspection was held on Sept. 2, Mr. Nasuti reported. There are actually some dollars left in that grant, and our office will be working with airport management to identify a couple of additional items that can be completed with that money, and we will be bringing that to you next month, he said. Rehabilitate Parallel Taxiway Lighting and Signs (Phase III) - Contract No. 19 A pre-construction meeting with Tech Services Inc. will be scheduled for later this month, Mr. Nasuti reported. Requisitions by Mr. Pickels Mr. Pickels reviewed the requisitions for September. Arnold Palmer Regional Airport 6 Rostraver Airport

7 Arnold Palmer Regional Airport (Latrobe) - Project Requisition No. 7, totaling $1,091.55; Project Requisition No. 7, totaling $173,795.69; ACB WESTMORELAND CO AA (Corporate Hangar Area, Capital Budget Project) Requisition No. 6, totaling $326, Rostraver Airport Project Requisition No. 10, totaling $7,074.41; Project Requisitions No. 8, totaling $47,072.06; First Commonwealth Account No Requisition No. 74, totaling $28,662.38; Construction Fund Investment Account (Series 2009) Requisitions No. 12, totaling $352, Upon the motion of Ms. Drake, seconded by Mr. Canterna, requisitions for September were unanimously approved (copies attached). Solicitor s Report by Donald Snyder Mr. Snyder noted that hearings for the authority s tax assessment appeals will be held Sept. 15. Executive Director s Report - by Gabe Monzo Mr. Monzo asked for consideration of a proposed agreement with Range Resources, under the the authority s existing agreement with Kriebel Resources for gas rights at Rostraver Airport. Upon the motion of Mrs. Smarto, seconded by Ms. Drake, the agreement with Range Resources was unanimously approved. Mr. Monzo also asked the authority to consider authorization to demolish the defunct gas station located between Route 51 and the Runway at Rostraver Airport. Upon the motion of Ms. Drake, seconded by Mr. Canterna, authorization to move forward with plans to demolish the building was granted unanimously, pending review and approval by the authority Property Committee. Mr. Monzo reported that the maintenance department has completed painting of the Enhanced Taxiway Centerline Markings required under FAR Part 139 and also engaged in non-lethal harassment of birds on the airfield. Mr. Monzo also reported that Moe Haas, Tom Stynchula and Mike Umbaugh participated as evaluators at the disaster drill held at Pittsburgh International Airport last month. That s quite an honor to our maintenance and fire crew here, Mr. Monzo said. And Pittsburgh really appreciated their input, so that s quite a feather in our guys cap. Arnold Palmer Regional Airport 7 Rostraver Airport

8 Control Tower Report - by Dwayne Pickels Mr. Pickels reported that there were 2,931 aircraft operations at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in July. A copy of the report is attached to these minutes. Unfinished Business None New Business Ms. Drake requested that the memorial garden located around the airport entrance sign be weeded and noted that she will send committee choices to members prior to next month s meeting. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:23 a.m. The next Regular Meeting of the will be held: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. at Rostraver Airport. Minutes respectfully submitted by: Approved by: Secretary Dwayne Pickels Administrative Assistant Arnold Palmer Regional Airport 8 Rostraver Airport