09-28-2006 APM+HUTCHINSON AIRPORT COMMISSION
September 28, 2006
5:30 p.m.
Airport Arrival/Departure Building
Minutes
Members present: Dave Skaar, Chuck Brill, Doug McGraw, Joel Schwarze
Members absent: Dick Freeman
Others Present: John Olson, City of Hutchinson; Sonja Muellerleile, City of Hutchinson; Tom Parker,
Hutchinson Aviation; Andy Kirchoff, Life Link III; Julie Neuharth, Brent Reiner, Craig
Reiner, Tim Miller, Joe Dooley (Aircraft owners)
Meeting called to order at 5:30 p.m. There was a quorum of members present.
1. Approve Minutes of June 29, 2006 meeting
Motion made by Brill, second by McGraw to approve minutes. Unanimous Approval.
2. Airport Commission Appointment. Chuck Brill's term expires in September 2006. Chuck is eligible for
reappointment. The Commission sought Brill's reappointment and requested City staff inform the Council of
Brill's desire for reappointment.
3. Life Link III Propertv Lease. Andy Kirchoff, CEO of Life Link III, presented before the Commission. He
reported that activity at the airport is going well. Mr. Kirchoff reported that Life Link III had just gone through
an accreditation process and had received provisional accreditation. The results of the process are forthcoming
and any changes, along with those requested by the Airport, and would be worked one at the same time.
Kirchoff reported that growth of Life Link III has precluded activity here in Hutchinson, as the organization
now has aircraft in New Richmond, WI, Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, in St. Cloud and here in
Hutchinson. The amount of activity has made focusing on Hutchinson difficult, and because of the late date,
construction in Hutchinson could not start until next construction season. The Commission appointed Olson to
discuss the results of the accreditation report with Kirchoff, and discuss the potential for a concrete pad at the
SW corner of the apron and burying the electrical hookup for the helicopter before winter sets in. Motion made
by Schwarze, second by Brill to recommend extension of the existing lease for a period ending November 30,
2006. This length of time would allow a new lease to be drafted and approved by Council. Unanimous
approval.
4. 2006 Airuort Imurovements — T- Hangar construction
Olson updated the Commission on progress to date for the 2006 project. The bid review is complete. The
contract & insurance are in for signature, and the contractor sent shop drawings to TKDA Engineers /Architects
this week. The building colors were selected to match the color scheme of existing private hangars. TKDA has
surveyed the building site, which will leave approximately 50' of apron on the north side of the building. This
configuration will allow movement of the larger aircraft operated by the private hangar tenants. In the near
future, a pre - construction meeting will be held, where the contractor will deliver a schedule and inform us of
when construction will begin.
Olson reported that references of the contractor were contacted. Olson contacted Owatonna Airport (Dave
Beaver) and received a good report. Jackson Airport (Dean Albrecht) was also contacted, again, a good report,
however, he noted that we should avoid use of skylights.
Olson addressed the potential for `sweating' in the new hangar. There will be some sweating in the hangars,
that is typical for this type of construction and for the fact the building is unheated. Ridge vents can be installed
with the project, or after -the -fact. However, a ridge vent works best with soffits in combination with the
`chimney affect' of a more steeply pitched roof. There would be some movement of air, however, as the
building is not designed to be tight, like an insulated building would be, the partitions between hangars are also
about 2" above the floor, and finally, there is air movement when hangar doors are opened. The contractor will,
however, provide the estimated cost of installing a ridge vent, which can be done after- the -fact, as well.
The references contacted reported some seasonal sweating as being `the nature of the beast' for this type of
building.
General drainage from the hangar should be roughly split by the building, with east side of building draining
into the swale west of existing private hangars. Drainage on west side of building should drain over apron to
grass area east of new hangar site.
Gutter drainage would need to be brought to the ends of the building, as nearly all wall space is made up of
doors. Drainage ways remain generally the same (cast/west flows nearly split evenly), but are concentrated at
the building corners. Olson reported positive response for use of gutters from Jackson Airport. They've
experienced fewer ice -up problems in front of hangar doors with their Midland Bi -Fold hangars with gutters.
5. Close -out of existing federal projects
Olson reported on progress regarding close -out of existing federal projects. For the 2004 project — all but one
TKDA bill has been submitted for payment. For the 2005 project — all but the electrical portion has been
submitted for payment. Electrical issues have been resolved between the engineers and suppliers. Uni-
directional REILS will be installed instead of omni- directional REILS. Work should progress soon now that
these issues have been resolved.
6. Review private and /or commercial operations activity. Commercial Hangar. Discussion was held regarding
whether a commercial hangar intended primarily for storage, built in the commercial area, would need to install
a working restroom or only rough -in water and sewer services to comply. The Commission decided to take
each future application on its own merits.
7. Hangar Rental Policy. There was significant discussion relative to the current hangar waiting list policy, and
to the process currently used to identify potential hangar tenants. City staff will present a draft policy to
Commissioners for their review prior to the next meeting. The policy will be discussed in detail at the next
Airport Commission meeting.
8. Hangar Tenants. A motion was made by McGraw, second by Schwarze to give James Mona thirty (30) days
to complete and sign a hangar lease agreement, or face possible eviction. Unanimous approval. City staff was
also directed to notify Tim Huiras that he has sixty (60) days to comply with the terms of the lease agreement
and present an aircraft registration document or a lease document showing his interest in a registered aircraft.
9. Other Discussion. A copy of the most recent financial report for the airport was included in Commission
packets for review.
10. New Business
Brill reported torn insulation on the hangar door in the maintenance hangar and requested that it be repaired.
City staff will address this issue.
A motion was made by Schwarze, second by McGraw to request addition of high -speed internet connections at
the airport. This would benefit the current weather information system and would allow pilots to access the
intemet in the pilots' lounge. Unanimous approval.
At 7:30, a motion to adjourn was made by Schwarze, second by McGraw. Unanimous approval.
NEXT MEETING: Tentatively scheduled for October 26, 2006 at 5:30 at the Airport Conference Room