Airport Board Has Marathon Meeting
Members of the Grove Municipal Airport Trust Authority spent nearly four hours in their regular meeting Thursday afternoon, arguing over 10 cents in fuel markup, complaining about the city not paying for snow removal, E&O Insurance, or pavement repairs, disputing a fuel survey showing Grove Airport having the lowest aviation gas prices in seven states, and refusing to provide The Grove Observer with a copy of the trust budget and city budget drafts as related to the airport.
At meeting's end, there was no one left in the room except four Board members and the airport manager.
Councilman Larry Parham, in the audience, had suggested that the board approve a 10 cent increase in fuel markup for 100LL from the current 50 cents, which board member David Adzigian had built into the trust's budget as a basis for revenue, but the board voted it down 2-2 anyway. It was noted that the airport trust's attorney fee expenses will run more than $10,000 this year, against a budget of $2700. Most of this was spent on fighting the city's request for transfer of property from airport to the city. Adzigian had lobbied for the 10 cent increase to put towards pavement repairs and improvements. Another motion to keep 100LL fuel markup at 50 cents but raise the markup on jet fuel, passed 3-1.
Board member Gary Tripensee was the only member to vote against approval of the City Budget for the airport saying it "was not right that this budget was increased 31%." Adzigian pointed out that most of the increase was based on increased fuel sales due to higher fuel prices.
Final budgets must still be approved by the City Council.
The board also discussed airport improvements and indicated that a new or remodeled Terminal Building would probably be first on the list; heard a presentation from Mark Hestand on new wireless service for the airport tied into two SBC DSL lines; voted to sell fuel at cost plus 10 cents for the upcoming Young Eagles event May 6; voted to drop the posting of agendas for the Airport Support Group meetings; voted to declare as surplus property a pile of dirt on Site 6E and send a letter to the city; voted to approve the lease agreement with the city on the 20 acres of co-owned property, with a number of changes.
Board member Tripensee disputed a fuel survey of aviation gas prices taken by The Grove Observer last week which showed Grove with the lowest price, $3.15 a gallon on survey day, in seven states, against an average of $4.11. Within a few days Grove had raised its price to $3.70 which Tripensee said was the highest price in the region in his survey. Adzigian had taken a survey based on month-old prices and stated a 10 cent increase in fuel markup would not be out of line. His survey on Jet Fuel showed an average of $3.55 compared to Grove at $3.10.
Much of the meeting was spent complaining about lack of revenue but voting against taking action to increase it. Some citizens complain that fuel prices are kept low to benefit what they refer to "as the private flying club" at the airport, at the city's and taxpayer's expense.
The Airport Board does not make up a packet of agenda item information as the Council and other trust authorities do, which prohibits the Media from seeing the items under discussion. Guests don't even bother to introduce themselves so citizens can know who they are. The Airport Board meetings give all the appearances of a Private Club with little regard for those in attendance.
The Observer requested faxed copies of the budgets for this story and was told to get them from the airport manager after they had been changed.
At meeting's end, there was no one left in the room except four Board members and the airport manager.
Councilman Larry Parham, in the audience, had suggested that the board approve a 10 cent increase in fuel markup for 100LL from the current 50 cents, which board member David Adzigian had built into the trust's budget as a basis for revenue, but the board voted it down 2-2 anyway. It was noted that the airport trust's attorney fee expenses will run more than $10,000 this year, against a budget of $2700. Most of this was spent on fighting the city's request for transfer of property from airport to the city. Adzigian had lobbied for the 10 cent increase to put towards pavement repairs and improvements. Another motion to keep 100LL fuel markup at 50 cents but raise the markup on jet fuel, passed 3-1.
Board member Gary Tripensee was the only member to vote against approval of the City Budget for the airport saying it "was not right that this budget was increased 31%." Adzigian pointed out that most of the increase was based on increased fuel sales due to higher fuel prices.
Final budgets must still be approved by the City Council.
The board also discussed airport improvements and indicated that a new or remodeled Terminal Building would probably be first on the list; heard a presentation from Mark Hestand on new wireless service for the airport tied into two SBC DSL lines; voted to sell fuel at cost plus 10 cents for the upcoming Young Eagles event May 6; voted to drop the posting of agendas for the Airport Support Group meetings; voted to declare as surplus property a pile of dirt on Site 6E and send a letter to the city; voted to approve the lease agreement with the city on the 20 acres of co-owned property, with a number of changes.
Board member Tripensee disputed a fuel survey of aviation gas prices taken by The Grove Observer last week which showed Grove with the lowest price, $3.15 a gallon on survey day, in seven states, against an average of $4.11. Within a few days Grove had raised its price to $3.70 which Tripensee said was the highest price in the region in his survey. Adzigian had taken a survey based on month-old prices and stated a 10 cent increase in fuel markup would not be out of line. His survey on Jet Fuel showed an average of $3.55 compared to Grove at $3.10.
Much of the meeting was spent complaining about lack of revenue but voting against taking action to increase it. Some citizens complain that fuel prices are kept low to benefit what they refer to "as the private flying club" at the airport, at the city's and taxpayer's expense.
The Airport Board does not make up a packet of agenda item information as the Council and other trust authorities do, which prohibits the Media from seeing the items under discussion. Guests don't even bother to introduce themselves so citizens can know who they are. The Airport Board meetings give all the appearances of a Private Club with little regard for those in attendance.
The Observer requested faxed copies of the budgets for this story and was told to get them from the airport manager after they had been changed.
posted by Editor | 2:30 AM
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