Galesburg Reporter

City of Galesburg Airport Advisory Commission met Jan. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 3:07pm

Roll Call: Present Ex-Officio

Aaron Repp Don Miles (Parks Superintendent)

David Christensen Michael Doi (Public Works Director)

David Carlton

Phillip Wolford (FBO Rep) Public Members in Attendance

Ken Springer (KCAP Rep) Bill Hurley

Council Liaison Bradley Hix Harrel Timmons

Brian Vallero

Absent

Minutes Approval:

A motion was made by Christensen and seconded by Springer to approve the Minutes of December 21, 2023. Motion approved by unanimous consent.

Citizen Comments:

Hurley: would like to have an AED (defibrillator) placed at the airport.

Timmons: not too long ago, a friend had a heart attack at another airport and an AED was used to bring him back to life. What are the training requirements?

Christensen: has been through training for years.

Wolford: can put in the front office of Jet Air

Repp: Ken Springer will need to leave at 4:00 p.m. so request to move discussion item for status and plans of former terminal building to front of agenda.

• Discussion – status and plans of former terminal building.

Doi: An estimate was provided by Klingner for rehabilitating the terminal building in the amount of $800,000.00.

Hix: that amount is too much.

Springer: there is not enough use to justify that amount.

Wolford: no interest, better off to demolish the terminal and construct a hangar down the road, but he thanked staff for researching the renovation costs and said it was good to explore all options.

Christensen: what is the demolition cost, the answer was that $40,000.00 was put in the budget for the demolition [2025 CIP].

Springer made a motion to demolish the terminal as planned which was seconded by Christensen. The motion passed unanimously.

Updates and Reports:

• FBO Update (Phillip Wolford)

Thanked staff for the snow removal and said they did an amazing job.

Repp: asked about the worst conditions, Miles said the wind was the worst and the snow was wet and heavy.

• Airport Manager Update (Michael Doi)

Discussion of Galesburg airport becoming a regional airport.

Repp: Macomb is listed as a regional airport. To be regional, an airport appears to need 1,000 instrument operations. We are close to 1,000 which would put us in another category to be eligible for additional funding.

Vallero: being tracked by a transponder will guarantee exceeding 1,000 instrument landings. Peoria is told to contact the Quad City airport – we should reinforce contacting Galesburg if we want to exceed the 1,000.

Aaron: did Mike Doi talk to Jeff about the 12,000-asset report [Appendix A-1 Technical Analysis of the 2012 General Aviation Asset Report]?

• Airport Maintenance Update (Don Miles)

Miles: airport maintenance has been moving snow for the past couple of weeks

Wolford: anything to do for budget layout?

Miles: wants a new maintenance building by this fall

Doi: Read excerpts from call with Jeff Olson: RV parking, maintenance building and terminal building:

Permissible to lay out RV spacing in the parking lot.

Creating a permanent dedicated parking area with utilities for RV’s is a violation of FAA rules.

Jeff to meet with planners on 1/19/24 – will submit plan for ALP and parking lot.

Put future hangars in the former terminal location.

Wolford: put maintenance building directly south – Jet Air would gladly lease the old building; discuss the location with Jeff Olson and the City Manager

Old/Tabled Business:

• Relocate fence to allow for RV parking during Stearman event.

Wolford: Stearman Fly-In – inside gate for pilots only – people associated with the fly-in will want to be in their own area, which is not possible. Reference Red Oak airport – no one will park in the parking lot. Still works, although he thought it would be more convenient and doesn’t want it to be yearround.

Wolford: before, YMCA would shuttle people to other locations to use showers.

Springer: what would be the trigger for putting RVs inside the fence?

Repp: anything inside the fence must be airport related.

Wolford: thinks 90% of overnight events allow RV parking.

Hurley: wouldn’t AOPA [Airline Owners and Pilots Association] have a say so or insight?

Wolford: one of their articles had to do with camping.

Wolford: Illinois Division of Transportation & FAA – one individual leaves his camper year-round.

Repp: is Red Oak’s RV parking inside the fence?

Doi: handed out Jeff Olson’s layout plan & read his email.

Wolford: comments/suggestions on parking lot plan.

Hurley: is this analogous to subdivisions right next to the airport?

Hix: does sharing the fence change ALP & use?

Wolford: yes, moving the fence would cause problems.

Repp: Jet Air has trailers; a gravel area would help.

Hix left at 3:50pm

Repp: Rochelle is trying to make a permanent camp, Galesburg is not.

Wolford: would like to send an article to Jeff – Aaron to provide.

Vallero – RV rental is the same price as renting hotel in some places.

Wolford – talk to Todd Harders – Nebraska – knows about RVs, lines up where people go.

• Status – IDOT inspection from September 2023.

Miles: tree work remains

Doi: call Jeff about incandescent lights at Kewanee

Carlton: call Ross Carpenter – Kewanee

New Business

• Special Event – RC Fly-In Event

Repp: last year, the commission supported the remote plan event, FAA needs to make sure it is a safe event.

Christensen: use ramps

Wolford: use taxiways, not technically on the runway; done 20-30 years ago.

Harrel: yes, one of the fastest growing groups

Wolford: motion to approve special event, seconded by Christensen.

Approved 4-0 (Springer left at 4:00pm)

General Discussion of Other Airport Related Topics:

Harrel: looking for facility to put in small machine shop – cannot find anything in Galesburg.

Carlton: side latches were installed – works well, keeps out elements.

Miles: will move forward and install latches on both sides of F row hangars.

Christensen: any plans to paint?

Miles: will check [$20,000 in 2024 budget]

Repp: Experimental Aviation Event – Eagles Rally on April 13 and June 8, pilots and volunteers donate aircraft and their time to provide free airplane rides for kids ages 8 – 17. During the last event, 35-42 kids were flown.

Doi: Need to fill out special event form for events.

Next Meeting: February 15, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., Stearman Building, second floor.

Adjournment: A motion was made by Christensen and seconded by Wolford to adjourn the meeting at 4:18 p.m.

https://cms7files.revize.com/galesburg/Document_Center/Agendas%20and%20Minutes/Airport%20Advisory/2024/Airport%20Advisory%20Commission%20Minutes%20011824.pdf