PROCEEDINGS OF THE AIRPORT DISTRICT, PARISH OF BEAUREGARD, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT REGULAR MEETING, OCTOBER 2, 2003.
The Beauregard Airport District Board met in Regular Session on Thursday, October 2, 2003 at 5:00 P.M. The following Board Members were present: Hollis Ray O'Neal, Chairman; Wayne Hall, Eugene Loftin, R.M. Simmons and John Sandlin. Those absent were: Karl St. Romain and Elton Pickering, Secretary/Treasurer. Also present were: John B. Jones, III, Airport Manager and Lee Lancon, Engineering Consultant.
The invocation was given by Mr. Loftin.
Mr. O'Neal then welcomed all those in attendance to the October 2003 Airport Board meeting. He then asked if there were any amendments to the agenda.
Mr. Jones requested one amendment which was for approval and adoption of a Mega-site survey to be submitted to the Louisiana Department of Economic Development. There were no more amendments to the agenda. Mr. Sandlin then made a motion to amend the agenda and add the requested item as Item C under Grounds and Maintenance. Mr. Hall offered the second and the motion was unanimously approved.
The next item on the agenda was approval of the minutes for the September 4, 2003 board meeting. Mr. O'Neal asked if there were any corrections to the minutes. There being no corrections a motion was made by Mr. Hall and seconded by Mr. Sandlin to approve the minutes as written and mailed. The minutes were unanimously approved.
The next item was the adoption of the 2003 amended budget. Mr. O'Neal asked Mr. Jones to present the amended budget. Mr. Jones told the board that each year an amended budget was prepared and presented to the board. The purpose of the amended budget was to reconcile the budget, as adopted, with the actual revenues and expenditures so that the budget, as amended, remains an effective fiscal management tool. Mr. Jones explained that each line item in the budget is examined. Often the bottom line will have very little change but various line items will have substantial adjustments. He used the federal and state grant line items as an example. The original revenues from federal and state grants were based on the anticipated approval for the first phase of a parallel taxiway. However, after adoption of the budget, grants were approved for two phases of a parallel taxiway. This would be a two-fold increase in grant revenues. There was a short discussion after which Mr. Loftin made a motion to adopt the Amended Budget. Mr. Hall seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Mr. O'Neal then brought up the first item of business under Grounds and Maintenance which was a project status report. He recognized the airport consulting engineer, Mr. Lee Lancon, and asked Mr. Lancon to bring the board up to date regarding the ongoing projects. Mr. Lancon reported first on the taxiway project. He said that the final drawing and paperwork had been submitted on the taxiway. He said he felt very sure that the FAA would authorize advertising for bids sometime this month. Based on that assumption, he recommended that the board go ahead and authorize advertising for bids upon receipt of approval from the FAA. He also suggested that the board decide when they wished the project to begin since we were rapidly going into the winter months. There was a brief discussion, after which a motion was made by Mr. Simmons to approve advertising for project bids as soon as approval is received from the FAA. The bids will be opened at the December 4th meeting if the required time for advertising has been met. The motion was seconded by Mr. Sandlin and unanimously approved.
Mr. Lancon mentioned that in the conversations with the FAA there was a question of what the 3rd year entitlement funds of $150,000 were to be used for. Several members expressed surprise because they were under the impression that the entitlement funds for the 2nd and 3rd year were being absorbed by the taxiway project. There was a brief discussion after which Mr. Simmons made a motion for Mr. Jones to check with the FAA and if the 3rd year entitlement of $150,000 were available it would be earmarked for the taxiway project. Mr. Loftin offered the second and the motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Lancon then told the board that the Airport Layout Plan had been completed and forwarded to the FAA. He said that it was his understanding that the plan had been forwarded to the flight standards office for their review and approved.
The next item of business was on project resolutions for LaDOTD. Mr. Jones stated that a resolution had been previously submitted listing all future projects for the next several years. He said that the Aviation Division, LaDOTD has requested a resolution for projects for Fiscal Year 04-05. After a short discussion the board indicated that there two projects to be requested for the next year. One was the North Taxiway (E) which would connect to Runway 18. The other was taxiway access to proposed new hangars to be constructed by tenants.
Upon a motion by Mr. Hall, seconded by Mr. Simmons the following resolution was offered:
Resolution No. 04-03
WHEREAS, Title 2 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 provides that cities, towns, parishes, and other political subdivisions of this State may separately or jointly acquire, establish, construct, expand, own, lease, control, equip, improve, maintain, operate, regulate, and police airports and landing fields for the use of aircraft; and,
WHEREAS, the State of Louisiana, Department of Transportation and Development, Division of Aviation, (formerly the LA DOTD-OAPT) is charged by Title 2 with the responsibility for the development of aviation facilities within the State to foster air commerce and to safeguard the interests of those engaged in all phases of the aviation industry and of the general public; and,
WHEREAS, the Beauregard Parish Airport District 1, hereinafter referred to as “Sponsor”, has completed an FAA and DOTD approved Master Plan, Action Plan, and/or Airport Layout Plan which outlines the specific future development of the Beauregard Regional Airport; and, the Sponsor is desirous of implementing a portion of the approved Plan recommendations which provide for the critically needed improvements as stated below to substantially improve the safety and usability of the Airport, but does not have sufficient funds of its own required for completing the needed improvements; and,
WHEREAS, the LA DOTD, Division of Aviation is authorized by Title 2 to expend funds for the construction of enlargement of airports for the safety and advancement of aeronautics;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
SECTION I
That the Sponsor does hereby formally request that the LA DOTD, Division of Aviation provide funds required to complete the airport improvements at the Beauregard Regional Airport specifically described as:
2. Construct T-Hangar taxi lanes for new T-Hangar site:
SECTION II
The Sponsor does hereby appoint and authorize the LA DOTD, Division of Aviation to act as agent for the Sponsor for the following purposes:
To provide financial assistance to the Sponsor in the amount of Ten Percent (10%) of the total cost necessary for the completion of the described improvements to match other funds to be provided by the Federal Aviation Administration which may amount to ninety percent (90%) of the total project costs.
SECTION III
That the said LA DOTD, Division of Aviation be and is hereby assured that all necessary servitudes, rights-of-way, rights of ingress and egress and means thereof will be furnished by the Sponsor and the titles thereto will be valid and indefeasible, and that the Sponsor will assume ownership, financial reporting, and complete responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of the airport after completion of said improvements.
SECTION IV
That the Sponsor will save and hold the said LA DOTD, Division of Aviation, its officers, agents, and employees harmless from any liability or claim for damages arising out of the project, including death or injuries to third parties including, but not limited to, liability or claim for damages out of the negligence of said LA DOTD, Division of Aviation, it officers, agents, or employees, and expressly agrees to defend any suit of any nature brought against the LA DOTD, Division of Aviation as a result of this project.
SECTION V
That the Chairman, Board of Commissioners of the Sponsor be and is hereby authorized and directed to evidence this agreement by affixing his signature at the place provided therefore on this resolution and on subsequent related documents/agreements as required by the rules and regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration and the State of Louisiana and the Clerk is hereby authorized to attest said execution.
SECTION VI
That this resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption.
The Board of Commissioners for the Sponsor of the Parish of Beauregard met in regular session this date. The aforesaid resolution was offered by Mr. Hall and seconded by Mr. Simmons. The aforesaid resolution, having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
YEAS: Mr. O'Neal, Mr. Loftin, Mr. Hall
Mr. Simmons and Mr. Sandlin.
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Mr. Pickering and Mr. St. Romain.
WHEREUPON, the resolution was declared adopted on the 2nd day of October, 2003.
BY:
Hollis Ray O'Neal
TITLE: Chairman, Board of Commissioners
ATTEST:
Mr. O'Neal then asked Mr. Jones to address the next item which was the Mega-Site survey. Mr. Jones told the board members that the State Department of Economic Development had issued a statewide request asking that large tracts of land be identified that could possibly be used as sites for large economic development projects. He said that the most likely tract in this area would be here at the airport on the west side of the Old Airport Road. Fortunately, much of the information requested had been developed and was still available from the Venture Star Space Shuttle study. Mrs. Jane Dufrene and personnel from BECI had utilized that data plus current input from the airport to complete the survey. Mr. Jones passed the completed survey around for review by each board member. He said that if the board approved and accepted the survey it would then be submitted to the Department of Economic Development for inclusion in the state database. Mr. Sandlin made a motion to approve the survey and submit it to the state. A second was offered by Mr. Hall and the motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Sandlin then gave a very informative report on his recent airport presentation to the Rotary Club. Mr. Sandlin told the board that he was impressed with the interest shown. Mr. Sandlin then reviewed the status of the airport's efforts to obtain a surplus military aircraft for display at the airport. He emphasized that this was a lengthy process and advised patience. The board as a whole expressed their appreciation for Mr. Sandlin's efforts.
The last item of business was to discuss the Sick Leave Compensation policy. Mr. O'Neal reminded the members that this was an item the auditor had recommended changing. Mr. O'Neal referenced information furnished to each member regarding the financial obligations resulting from existing compensation policies. There was a lengthy discussion with a general consensus that there will be a set number of days of sick leave allowed annually and there will be no carryover of sick leave from one year to the next. There will have to be consideration of existing sick leave, either by retention in the system or payment of the unused sick leave. In addition, the board would want authority to approve paid or unpaid Leave of Absence in the case of catastrophic illness or extended confinement. There was no official action taken. The airport personnel committee will make recommendations at the November meeting.
There being no further business a motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Loftin, seconded by Mr. Hall and unanimously approved.
Hollis Ray O'Neal, Chairman
Elton Pickering, Secretary/Treasurer