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HomeMy WebLinkAbout23.04.13 - Minutes, Hag Regional AirportHAGERSTOWN REGIONAL AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION Minutes of the Open Meeting April 13, 2023 The Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Commission held a public meeting on Thursday April 13, 2023, at 3:15 p.m. at the Hagerstown Regional Airport Terminal Conference Room, 18434 Showalter Road, Hagerstown, Maryland. Commission members at the meeting were: Rob Ferree Chair, Gary Bockrath Vice Chair, George Stone, Curtis Beny, Samuel Cool, Austin Colby, Ex-Officio County Commissioner Jeffrey Cline. Jonathan Horowitz Director of Business Development. Airp01i staff members present were Andrew Eshleman Director of Public Works, Neil Doran Airport Director, Gene Bolanowski Operations Manager, Peggy Siler Airline Station Leader, Richard Lesh Administrative Assistant and Amy Blair Office Associate. CALL TO ORDER Rob Fenee called the meeting to order on April 13, 2023, at 3:15 p.m. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION John Douglas Stine observed the meeting but did not participate. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion made by Mr. Cool seconded by Mr. Bockrath to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2023, meeting. The motion passed unanimously. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Mr. Doran and Mr. Eshleman reported the following: Hagerstown Regional Airport (HOR) received the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approval to proceed on two projects: Runway 9/27 lighting and Taxiway C (Object free area). Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will determine how funding will be allocated. GRANTS • FAA -Hagerstown Regional Airport, Reconstruct Taxiway F Pavement and Lighting - HOR had a meeting with bidders for the project and is proceeding on schedule. • Infrastructure Grant -Seeking 7.7 million for a new Air Traffic Control Tower -Mr. Doran reported that HOR had a meeting with the national planning team for the FAA. The Planning Team stated that the Bipaiiisan Infrastructure program for the replacement of towers, is more geared towards when the Airp01i owns the tower. The FAA owns the tower for HOR. The earmark submission wasn't pushed forward through Representative Trone's office; however they will write a letter of support to the Senators. The eaimark is the Airport's best chance to get the 7. 7 million. Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of April 13, 2023 Page 2 of4 NEW BUSINESS Mr. Doran rep01ied the following: Mr. Doran has attended Maryland Aviation Day on March 22nd in Annapolis, MD. This was the first event and will be held annually. The Allegiant Routes Conference is April 17th -21 st in Las Vegas, NV. Mr. Doran, Mr. Eshleman and Ms. Siler will all be in attendance. Volaire Aviation Consulting will give a presentation on HGR's behalf to Allegiant's network planning and marketing team and to discuss performance on existing routes, expansion opp01iunities and rates and fees. Mr. Doran will also attend Maryland Regional Aviation Conference in Ocean City, MD June 6th -June 9th. AIRPORT DIRECTOR'S REPORT Mr. Doran reported the following: Customs and Border Patrol has agreed to having a global entry event at HGR in the fall. There will be a future meeting to discuss more details and an exact date. The New Heights prope1iy was purchased on April 3rd . The Airp01i will seek an FAA grant to reimburse that expense. R.A. Wiedemann & Associates, Inc. (RAW A) is still working on their deliverables, including staffing comments and looking at Airp01i rates and charges. Two additional workers were hired for airline services and grounds maintenance that will be starting soon. Mr. Doran had a meeting with the U.S. Senate Commerce Science and Technology Committee staff regarding several cities that lost air service. Mr. Doran was invited to sit and join in and speak on HGR's experience. A lobbying group asked if the Airport would be interested in joining in coalition with other communities regarding Essential Air service (EAS) and small community air service. A Bill was introduced in the 9th district in Pennsylvania and was co-sponsored by Congressman Trone. It would reopen the EAS program for a period of 3 years and allow communities to apply. Mr. Doran wanted to see if this is something the Airport Advisory Committee (AAC) members would supp01i. The members were in favor of this. HGR is hoping to publish Air Service Development solicitation in May. AIRLINE REPORT Ms. Siler repo1ied an update on our inbound and outbound numbers: Sanford/Orlando had an inbound passenger load of 1,619 and outbound passenger load of 1,461. Bags pushed 1,357. St. Pete-Clearwater had an inbound passenger load of 1,602 and outbound passenger load of 1,641. Bags pushed 1,355. Total bags to date 7,261. Total passenger load to date for Sanford/Orlando is 8,644. Total inbound 4,387 and 4,257 outbound. Total passenger load to date for St. Pete/Clearwater is 8,671 total. Total inbound 4,007 and 4,664 outbound. Total enplanements to date is 8,921. To date this puts HGR at 1,079 away from our 10,000th enplanement for the year. Ms. Siler provided numerous tours over the last month. On March 21 st with the Washington County Human Development Council and on April 13th with the ARC of Washington County. There are more tours scheduled within the upcoming months. Ms. Siler had a performance conference call with Allegiant, and the Airport is at 100% turns and O mishandled bags for April. Myrtle Beach, SC destination staiis on Friday May 26th and runs through September 4th. Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of April 13, 2023 Page 3 of 4 OPERATIONS REPORT Mr. Bolanowski rep01ied: Airport Security has begun the re-badging process for 2023. This will be an ongoing project through November. Full-Scale Drill Planning is continuing. There is a Staff Tabletop Exercise scheduled for April 26th. The Full-Scale Drill is still scheduled for October 7th . Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has installed their new CT screening machine in the checkpoint. TSA will be introducing the new technology to the media and our Public Relations team on April 19th . A new Baggage Screening Machine is scheduled to be installed in the Terminal and should be operational by June. The Annual Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspection is scheduled for May 17th through May 19th. Staff is working to prepare for the upcoming inspection. COUNTY COMMISIONERS UPDATE Mr. Cline thanked the Hagerstown Regional Airpo1i staff for all of our efforts daily. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT REPORT Mr. Horowitz repo1ied the following: George Edwards fund made final allocations and Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA) will be fully funded. This will allow for a 10,000 square foot expansion and will allow PIA to train 20% more students. The Enterprise zone economic development program Bill has been attacked by the legislature the last 3 years and has failed again this year due to opposition including the Maryland Department of Commerce. Business Development is anticipating the bill not to go through. The Business Development Depaiiment is still in the process of transitioning the framework in the foreign trade zone program in Washington County. The Depaiiment is already experiencing massive interest in the program and attracting corporations to the County. The State of Maryland invited the Business Development Department to tour the Port of Baltimore on April 12th. There is a federal program trying to establish a hydrogen fuel network across the United States. Hagerstown has been identified as a prime location for one of these fuel stations. MEMBERS COMMENTS No comments to report. Mr. Cool left the meeting at 4:30 p.m. CLOSED SESSION Mr. Bockrath, seconded by Mr. Colby, moved to convene in closed session at 4:35 p.m. to consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto. The members present during closed session were Andrew Eshleman Director of Public Works, Neil Doran Airport Director, Rob Ferree Chair, Gary Bockrath Vice Chair, Cmiis Berry, George Stone, Austin Colby, and Ex-Officio County Commissioner Jeffrey Cline. Hagerstown Regional Airpmi Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of April 13, 2023 Page 4 of4 RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION: Mr. Bockrath seconded by Mr. Colby, moved to reconvene in open session at 4:55 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Bockrath made a motion, seconded by Mr. Colby to adjourn the meeting at 4:56 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Amy Blair, Office Associate