DeKalb Times

City of Dekalb Airport Advisory Board met Jan. 28.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Chairman Bob Owens called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.

Roll Call: Bob Owens, Bernie Pupino, Melissa Gallagher, Paul Borek, Jim Rhoades, Matt Duffy, Gary Hanson and Anthony Faivre.

Absent: none

Guests: Bill Nicklas, Any Raih, Besse Chronopoulos and Dan Pape (CMT)

APPROVAL OF AGENDA - Motion by Jim Rhoades. Seconded by Paul Borek. Motion passed.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION- none

APPROVAL OF MINUTES- Motion by Matt Duffy. Seconded by Bernie Pupino. Motion passed.

OLD BUSINESS — None

NEW BUSINESS —

Recommendation to Approve the Approval of the Design Phase Engineering Services for Project DKB-4665 Crack Fill and Re-Mark Runway 2-20 - The Airport Advisory Board (AAB) discussed the design phase agreement with Crawford, Murphy and Tilly for project DKB-4665 Crack Fill and Re-Mark Runway 2-20. This project has 90% federal funding and 10% local funding because it is a runway maintenance project. The State of Illinois – Illinois Department of Transportation does not participate in the funding of airport maintenance projects.

Discussion was held on the age of runway 2-20. The runway has exceeded its design life. This project is needed to extend the life of runway 2-20 until the runway overlay project can be completed.

A motion was made by Gary Hanson to approve the approval of the design phase of project DKB-4665 Crack Fill and Re-Mark Runway 2-20. Seconded by Paul Borek. Motion passed.

Discussion on the Process to Install Solar Power Panels at DTMA – Dan Pape, with Crawford Murphy and Tilly, an airport consultant engineer for DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport, discussed the process to get FAA approval to install a solar panel farm at on airport property.

The process includes a submittal to the FAA, a concurrent land use agreement, a glare study performed on the solar panels being used, the area to be used for the solar farm has to be approved, legal documents have to be filed and an environmental assessment has to be completed. Mr. Pape stated it is a long process, at least 18 months, to get everything approved.

There are still solar energy companies looking at developing solar farms at Illinois airports. Further discussion is needed.

AIRPORT MANAGERS REPORT-

Airport Manager Tom Cleveland announced that he will be leaving at the end of February for a new position at DuPage Airport. The AAB thanked Tom for the 18 1⁄2 years he has been here.

The airport name discussion was tabled until the board heard back from Jack Penning of Volaire Aviation. Mr. Penning is the airport consultant that authored the airport marketing plan.

Airport Manager Tom Cleveland, City Manager Bill Nicklas and Director of Street Operations, Facilities and Fleet, Andy Raih met with the FAA and the residents of the Town of Cortland that live in the south-west corner of town next to the airport. The residents have been complaining about the numerous aircraft flying over their homes. The FAA took the lead at the meeting and stated that the aircraft that are in the traffic pattern, and are in the process of landing or taking off, can be at any altitude and/or location they feel they need to be at. The pilots are not doing anything wrong. The residents of the Town of Cortland would like Airport Manager Tom Cleveland to fly over their homes at 1000’, 500’ and 200’ above the ground so they can see what the different altitudes look like from the ground. The FAA concurred with this idea.

An architect’s drawing of the office area of the main terminal building (FBO) was distributed to show the AAB the size of the current lobby. The airport staff has been discussing how to remodel or expand the lounge area where pilots and passengers sit. Further discussion is needed.

Airport Community Events where discussed. Airport Manager Tom Cleveland is having a meeting with the hot air balloon operators next week. A map of a 5K run was shown to the AAB.

DeKalb County Recycling Days were discussed. Dates for the days the DeKalb County Health Department will be using the far west end ramp for these events are, June 13th for the Hazardous Household Waste Event; August 15th and October 13th for the Electronics Recycle Event.

A DeKalb Chamber of Commerce After Hours Event was requested by Airport Manager Tom Cleveland.

Snow removal is going well. The part-time airport maintenance mechanic, Tom Brian, is very busy keeping up with the equipment maintenance. Tom has done an exceptional job fixing all our equipment.

The NIU Men’s and Woman’s Basketball teams and all their opponents have been flying into DeKalb Airport. Airport staff have done an excellent job handling the teams, fueling and deicing the aircraft when needed.

The airport fuel supply agreement with World Fuel Services will be discussed at the next AAB meeting.

A new cell tower will be erected 2 1⁄2 miles south east of DeKalb Airport.

MOTION TO ADJOURN- Motion to adjourn made by Bernie Pupino. Seconded by Jim Rhoades. Motion passed.

Meeting adjourned at 8:10pm.

https://www.cityofdekalb.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_01282020-1757