Sauk
Prairie Airport Minutes
September 18, 2002
Prairie du Sac Town Hall
7:00 PM
Present: Board Members: Kirk Olson, Bart Olson, Ed Miller, Doyle Curtis, Dean Gilding, Bob Cushing, Ron Lins
President Kirk Olson called the meeting to order at 7:05
Motion to approve the August 21, 2002 minutes by Ed Miller. Seconded by Bob Cushing. Approved. Correction to the minutes is the attendance of Bob Cushing.
Motion to adopt agenda by Ed Miller. Seconded by Ron Lins. Approved.
Motion to approve treasurer's report by Dean Gilding. Seconded by Ed Miller. Approved.
Communications - New Board Member: Ron Lins has replaced Joan Weiss as representative of the Town of Prairie du Sac. Ron is a member of the Prairie du Sac Town Board and the Prairie du Sac Extra-Territorial Zoning Committee. The Board wishes to thank Joan for 14 years of service. Welcome Ron.
Ed Miller submitted a verbal bill on behalf of Al Checky for (1) mowing $55.
Airport Sign: Bart Olson's cable employees have fixed the leaning airport sign. A discussion on the town ordinance, which prohibits traffic on the taxiway, ensued. Bart Olson will look for the ordinance number, which was printed on the old sign so that Ron can look it up in the town records.
Civil Air Patrol Letter: Bart Olson read the letter he had mailed to the Civil Air Patrol outlining designated areas at the airport they may access and also thanking them for their interest in the Sauk Prairie Airport.
Security Gate: Bart Olson passed around several security gate options from various companies all ranging in the $3,000 area. After a brief discussion the consensus of the board seemed to think unauthorized airport visitors was not that much of a problem to warrant gating or that operating a gate would create a whole new set of problems. Bob Cushing moved to table the issue. Seconded by Bart Olson. Approved.
Dog Park Update - Insurance Cancellation: Bart Olson reported that he had met that morning with Joe Kelly, Shamrock Dog Park, Brian Weeks, ET Chairman, Jim Jensen, Wis. Bureau of Aeronautics and Shawn Murphy, Administrator Village of Prairie du Sac at Murphy’s request to discuss and attempt to resolve the dog park fence issue. Olson informed the group that the FAA had ruled the fence and the building are “Hazards to Air Navigation” and the airport's insurance company will cancel the insurance if the hazard is not removed by December 22, 2002. In order to meet FAA rules the fence would have to be moved 82’ to the West. Joe Kelley stated that he would not move his fence regardless of the FAA determination. Olson told Murphy that since Kelly has declined to move the dog park fence he would continue to recommend the airport board appeal the August 2001 decision of the ET Committee. Olson worried, however, that a decision of the ET Committee, ET Appeals Board or Circuit Court forcing Kelly to move his fence could take longer than the 90 day grace period allowed by the insurance company which could cause the airport to be without insurance and possibly would have to close. Brian Weeks asked if there was an interim solution that could keep the airport’s insurance in force while the action was being appealed. Jim Jensen said that a displaced threshold could be implemented. Planes would have to land 345’ north of the south end of the runway maintaining a 20-1 slope from the northeast corner of the fence and effectively reducing the length of the runway to 2,595’. Loss of 345’ of runway would dramatically hinder the airport and several of the airport's users would no longer be able to use it. Bart Olson made a motion to table the displaced threshold proposal for one month pending actions of the ET Committee. Seconded by Bob Cushing. Approved.
On September 5, Olson had requested a meeting with the ET Committee on behalf of the airport board and himself as leaser to appeal the August 2001 ruling which allowed the dog park.
Ron Lins suggested that other insurance companies should be contacted. Bart Olson agreed to talk to our agent about other insurance companies but it was generally felt that all companies would decline the insurance coverage based on the FAA's determinations.
Bob Cushing will be meeting with the Village of Prairie du Sac to update them on the recent events.
Other Business: Doyle Curtis stated that he felt the corn crop was limiting visibility. Bart Olson stated that although he didn’t feel that the crops limited the visibility they are closer than they should be to the runway and taxiway and that next spring he would see to it that the crops are planted farther from runway and taxiways according to FAA crop planting guidelines.
Ed Miller reported that the windsock was not operating properly and might need replacement. Kirk Olson said he would check it out.
Ed Miller reported that Al Checky was going to remind Kurt Mueller of his promise to remove the old pilot shack.
Bart Olson will let all board members know when the next ET meeting is scheduled.
Motion to adjourn meeting by Bob Cushing. Seconded by Ed Miller. Adjourned
Bart Olson, Sec.-Trea.
Next meeting October 16, 2002