2026-10-27 - Airport Authority

00:01All right, we're streaming, we're live.

00:03>> Um well, we were one person coming.

00:06I think he probably went to the wrong

00:07building.

00:08He probably went to the probably went to

00:09the wrong building. I didn't know I told

00:11him not to.

00:12So, yeah, do you let me know everything?

00:14We're good.

00:15>> Okay.

00:16>> All right, we'll start by welcoming

00:17everybody to you here.

00:19Um

00:21and so, you know that the highlight of

00:23the day will be our walk around or tour

00:27with um

00:28Russ at the end. So, I think we have a

00:31fairly straightforward agenda before

00:33then, but a couple of items

00:35more than anything else. Um

00:38Sunny is having surgery today, and so I

00:41hope, you know,

00:44everything goes well for him. He let me

00:45know in advance. Even in spite of all of

00:47his problems, he never fails to do the

00:49right thing. He lets me know in advance.

00:52Thanks today.

00:53So, just just, you know, keep keep Sunny

00:56in thoughts and in your hearts today

00:58that everything goes well.

01:00Um so, let me welcome Jason.

01:04Welcome him.

01:06And

01:08Rubens.

01:09>> Yeah.

01:10>> And everybody else. Okay.

01:13Um

01:14you will see on the agenda, if you

01:16looked at it, that um

01:18we the second item there, aside from

01:20opening remarks. One thing I do want to

01:22mention at the end of the regular

01:24agenda, you will see under other

01:26business, we really do need to decide on

01:28a date for the next meeting. So, you

01:31know, we'll do that then, and I'll give

01:33you some thoughts about what what the

01:34plan is for that.

01:36>> [snorts]

01:37>> Um

01:38we have an update on the uh director

01:41search that either Devon or or Russ can

01:44give.

01:44>> Love Russ.

01:45>> And then we're supposed to have a

01:46visitor come,

01:47um and we'll

01:49give you some thoughts on that when he

01:50comes.

01:51>> Yeah, the the current rotation is Dan.

01:54Sweet, they did an interview with us.

01:57So, that part So, that part is done.

02:01So, that only got a chance to ask him

02:02>> Yeah.

02:03>> We haven't got anything back. We don't

02:05expect anything.

02:07So.

02:11I'm over.

02:16>> You know, the meeting is very late.

02:18Hard to know too.

02:20So, it remains mid-December probably

02:23that

02:24we might even see an announcement.

02:27But I think I mean I'll be surprised if

02:28we get, you know, to to actually hear

02:30something till then.

02:32Um so, we don't expect it, but um if we

02:35hear anything, we'll let you know.

02:38Okay.

02:39Um I might as well tell you in advance

02:41of Mr. Mike Overby coming cuz I think

02:43he's probably just a bit late and he'll

02:45come in.

02:46I had a request from a gentleman by the

02:50name of Mr. Mike Overby to come to the L

02:52meeting and speak for 3 minutes as his

02:55right is as a member of the public.

02:58Um

03:00and so

03:02it was about or is about the old World

03:05War II hangar, so it's hangar.

03:08The one with the curved roof, you know,

03:09the World War II one.

03:11And so, I did confer with Devon and also

03:15with the manager's office because

03:16obviously

03:18everybody has a right as a member of the

03:19public to speak.

03:21Um it's the same procedure as the uh

03:23mayor and commission meetings. If you're

03:25a member of the public, you have a right

03:26to speak if you notify them in advance.

03:29You get on the agenda, they give you 3

03:31minutes to speak. There is no discussion

03:34afterwards, no question and answer.

03:36You're thanked for speaking and then

03:37bye.

03:38That's the procedure. And we need to

03:41follow that procedure religiously with

03:44Mr. Overby. Why? Well, we're on tape for

03:47one thing. Um secondly, it appears that

03:50there is, you know, there's a legal

03:52action at work behind the scenes on this

03:55issue. We have no jurisdiction over

03:57hangars or leases, as you know,

04:01through the bylaws and the charger

04:04and we don't need to get or want to get

04:06embroiled in any kind of formal action.

04:08And so, if he comes, we will give him

04:10his 3 minutes to speak after I introduce

04:12him

04:13and then we'll thank him for coming and

04:15then he goes. If you want to speak to

04:18him outside the meeting, that's your

04:19business. Then that's one-on-one. But in

04:21here, please, let's follow that

04:23procedure religiously.

04:26I did get a letter from the manager's

04:28office and one from the lawyer.

04:31Hey.

04:33Hey.

04:34Mike?

04:35>> Yeah.

04:36>> Somebody I'm Don Naim.

04:37>> Don Naim, nice to meet you.

04:39>> Nice to meet you. Um there's an agenda

04:41there and

04:41>> Okay.

04:42>> Okay. And this is the room.

04:44>> Okay.

04:44>> So, this is I was just introducing the

04:47fact that you wanted to come and speak.

04:48>> I did not generally Yeah, so

04:52>> Um and I'll just put it

04:54for the sake of telling you, Mike and I

04:56have communicated

04:58when he wrote to me, but also um by

05:00phone. Mike understands the procedure.

05:03He knows that he gets 3 minutes to

05:05speak. He knows there's no question and

05:07answer or discussion afterwards.

05:09And so, it's his right as a member of

05:12the public to speak on the issue, and

05:15then that's it.

05:17Agreed, Mike?

05:18>> Agreed.

05:18>> Okay. If you want to stay at any visit

05:21that comes and you ask in advance, which

05:23you did, you're welcome to stay as a

05:25member of the public, but it will be as

05:27a silent observer only. Okay?

05:30All right. So, actually, we're ready for

05:32you.

05:32>> Okay.

05:33>> Um

05:34Have you Can you time 3 minutes?

05:36>> I can.

05:39>> Um so, Mike, if you want Do you want to

05:41come to the front or you want to stand?

05:43>> Works good.

05:44>> Probably up here might be better if you

05:45sit next to Jason.

05:46>> Yeah.

05:47>> Yeah.

05:48Um

05:50then your voice will carry.

05:51>> I'm probably going to have to and you're

05:53more than welcome to pull that lectern

05:55out if you Sure, use that whatever you

05:57want to do.

05:58Put this right here.

06:00I'm going to give the speech with an

06:01iPad before, but

06:02>> and tell them that I want to speak.

06:03right. Well, you you let Devon know when

06:05when you're ready.

06:06>> Okay. Go ahead. Um first of all, sorry

06:08about the tardiness, but uh

06:11second of all, I'd like to thank Airport

06:13Authority for your time, volunteering

06:14your time and services for the airport

06:16community. Uh much appreciable by all of

06:19us.

06:19>> [clears throat]

06:20>> My name's Mike Overby. I'm a local

06:21resident, a uh professional pilot,

06:24aircraft owner,

06:25and uh concerned stakeholder here at the

06:27Athens-Ben

06:28Epps Airport. And today, I'm here to

06:31share uh the aircraft owner's

06:33perspective

06:34on the uh planned demolition of the old

06:37World War

06:38II World War

06:40II hangar, known as Sonny's Hangar.

06:43Sonny's Hangar was an operating aircraft

06:45um maintenance facility, where five

06:47maintenance workers have worked up until

06:50October 19th, when they were told to

06:51vacate.

06:53Um the maintenance operation has been

06:55disrupted, and the hangar is no longer

06:58um producing the same rental

07:00income as it was.

07:02I'd like to ask the county to explain

07:03the operational and financial

07:04justification of this decision.

07:07Reliable mechanics

07:09and uh

07:10hangars

07:11are

07:13um

07:15Sorry. They're uh essential for us

07:16aircraft owners.

07:18Without that, um

07:20you know, we aircraft uh mechanics can

07:23retire,

07:24uh we have their income reduced, and

07:27aircraft owners like myself may be

07:28forced to move our aircraft or or even

07:32my case,

07:34the only reason I'm really able to live

07:35here is because of the airport, because

07:38I fly to Nashville when my trips start.

07:40So, without this airport facility,

07:43can't uh justify living here.

07:45When I landed yesterday, I looked over

07:48at the airport hangar, and I saw

07:51boat loaders and runway closure signs

07:53being moved into the hangar.

07:55As far as I know, I don't think there's

07:57been a condition assessment completed

08:00on the building.

08:02If the building could still be used for

08:04storage, why was the maintenance

08:06operation removed before a new project

08:09has even been ready to proceed?

08:11I support the additional hangar

08:13development at the airport.

08:15And I have a handout for you. I'll get

08:17to you in right after my speech.

08:19But to show the possible alternative

08:20location that could preserve Sonny's

08:23hangar as well as building the new

08:25hangar alongside.

08:27Of course, this would require aircraft

08:29clearances, access, planning

08:31requirements, but I think it's worth

08:32considering.

08:34My purpose today is to put these

08:36concerns on public record and ask that

08:38the officials in charge of this

08:40responsible for this examine whether

08:42demolition is really necessary and why

08:45the mechanics were displaced

08:47so early and whether we can preserve the

08:48hangar

08:50while adding to it.

08:51Thank you for your time.

08:53>> Well, thank you, Mark.

08:54And I think that was

09:01Thanks very much for coming, Mark. I

09:03really appreciate it. Actually, more

09:05more members of the public really should

09:06exercise their right to speak. And I did

09:09it mention to Mark that he actually also

09:11has the right to to speak to the mayor

09:13and commission if he wants.

09:15Um so, thank you, Mark. Did you say you

09:17have a handout?

09:18>> a handout here for you. It just kind of

09:20explains Well, in me 3 minutes is pretty

09:22tough.

09:23>> Yeah.

09:24>> But they're just Thank you very much.

09:25They're two-sided, yeah.

09:32>> Thank you.

09:53Um

09:54Well, as I had mentioned to Mark, you

09:56know, that more than our agenda today is

09:58because we're giving visitors a tour

10:00around.

10:01And other visitors have done that. Like

10:03Holly did it last time. If you're not

10:05comfortable with Mark joining or taking

10:06pictures or whatever the case may be.

10:08Very very good. Okay.

10:11All right. then go back to the agenda.

10:14Um and return to the normal business the

10:17minutes. So, the next one's

10:20Devon has done his usual comprehensive

10:21job. And so, if you have any additions

10:25to make on those or comments, let me

10:27have them now, please.

10:32If not, um I'll entertain a motion

10:36to accept them.

10:38When you're ready.

10:40Please.

10:43Second.

10:45Okay, Devon. Thank you.

10:48All in favor of accepting the minutes as

10:50they are?

10:52Those yes.

10:54Okay.

10:55>> I have to abstain on that motion,

10:56please.

10:58>> So, what's your

10:59>> I said I have to abstain from the vote.

11:00>> Okay.

11:02Okay.

11:07Thank you.

11:13Okay.

11:14So, moving on. We'll get through this

11:17quickly today.

11:22Okay. I'll I'll give you Russia and then

11:24Devon, you'll do the reporting between

11:26the two of you.

11:27>> You going to go first, Devon?

11:28>> Yes. So, um you have seen the financials

11:33and our revenue has

11:35been up significantly this fiscal year,

11:37so which is a very good thing.

11:40When you take the airport's revenue

11:43versus minus expenses for the month of

11:45September

11:46>> Can you put it on the map?

11:48>> Uh yes. Sorry, trying to do too many

11:50things at one time.

11:53Um

11:54Here you go.

11:58Uh but as you can see, when you have

12:01revenue minus expenses,

12:03we are

12:04up 302

12:06$6

12:08636. And just from a historical

12:11perspective, in 2025 that figure was

12:15183,000.

12:18In 2024,

12:20uh that figure was 109.

12:22Um and then in 2023 it was 103. So,

12:25we're we're seeing

12:28significant uh

12:30uh increase. Uh

12:32one thing I'll say is that especially

12:34between this year and last year,

12:37that should be relatively comparable. Of

12:39course, during uh September of this year

12:42we had the Oklahoma game, which was

12:44significant traffic.

12:46Um but in uh 2025 we had the Alabama

12:50game

12:52uh in um in September, and so that also

12:55was uh a very significant game. Um

12:59And so, I would I think those are two

13:02relatively uh

13:04uh comparable things.

13:06One other thing that you can see is that

13:09our operations uh year-to-date are

13:12around 12,000.

13:14And uh last year it was around 10,000.

13:18So, we've seen a good increase as far as

13:20traffic is concerned

13:22as well.

13:24Any questions about uh the financial

13:26reports?

13:27>> Thank you, Devin. This this report

13:28includes everything. I mean, there's not

13:30even I know sometimes like based on

13:32timing the report has to miss something,

13:34but that's the whole point.

13:35>> That's right. Yeah. I I um I reached out

13:38to uh to finance to make sure that

13:41everything was in the bank,

13:42and it is.

13:46Moving on to marketing and outreach, um

13:49just today Jason um brought uh

13:53uh University of Georgia College of

13:55Engineering capstone class, uh who's

13:58going to be working with us. We're very

14:00grateful for uh Jason

14:02um

14:03organizing that. Uh that group is going

14:05to be working on a project that will

14:07explore ramp expansion and also a

14:11potential vertiport uh location and

14:14design.

14:16Uh so that's that will be over the next

14:18year, I think um

14:20that they'll be working. Um and those

14:22that presentation normally is in May, is

14:26that right?

14:26>> Yeah, I think early May is it.

14:29Yeah, capstone presentation.

14:30>> So, who goes to that? Who

14:33What audience hears their presentation?

14:35Would the authority be able to?

14:38>> Yeah, so basically College of

14:40Engineering rents out the Classic Center

14:42and all the the engineering that's

14:44civil, environmental, mechanical, they

14:46all have senior design projects and

14:48they'll have a tri-fold board and

14:50present their findings. So, that's

14:52that's open to the public and that video

14:54>> Yeah, I'm sure that's

14:55>> something to remember.

14:56>> I think we'd like to.

14:57>> Yeah.

15:00>> Yeah, I'll make sure

15:01>> Where did you know that program?

15:03>> Yes, I I I went to UGA. Um so now we've

15:06been working with um

15:08with Athens for the past 3 years. Every

15:10this is the third cohort of of students

15:13that they'll do in the full academic

15:15year where they basically simulate a a

15:18true engineering project.

15:20So, it's a free labor for the airport.

15:22They get to they get to kind of see what

15:24some visuals and graphics of what

15:26potential real projects can look like.

15:28They're not they're not certified

15:29engineering drawings, but um it's just a

15:32benefit for both the airport and the and

15:34the College of Engineering students.

15:37>> That's great.

15:39We can also know

15:40>> I'll make sure that y'all get an invite

15:42to that cuz you can go and ask questions

15:44of them which they you know they they

15:46appreciate that interaction.

15:48Uh so yes, a couple other uh outreach

15:51activities. So, myself, Alton, and Neil

15:54hosted a tour for the Georgia 4-H staff

15:56that was uh they were holding a meeting

15:59here.

16:00Um

16:01we also um had the Ames, Iowa uh Chamber

16:07Intercity visit to Athens. So, I gave an

16:09overview of airport and a welcome there.

16:13Um and then in addition, Commissioner

16:15Taylor held a town hall meeting in the

16:18commercial terminal. And then this past

16:20weekend we hosted a war birds of that

16:25here at the airport. So

16:27>> They threw a lot of mail out.

16:29>> Yeah.

16:30>> And I didn't

16:32>> Yeah. Yeah.

16:35But that's it.

16:37>> Questions? Comments?

16:41That's great. That it's I think you're

16:43increasing the number.

16:45We've been some groups and things,

16:47aren't you?

16:48>> Yes. Yes.

16:49>> you need to crack that.

16:50>> Yeah.

16:51>> Mhm.

16:52All right. Capital improvement projects.

16:55>> Uh the capital improvement project it

16:58has

16:59we received the bids. It has been

17:01processed

17:02um through Athens-Clarke County. Right

17:05now we're waiting on finance. They're

17:08going to give them give us their final

17:10endorsement.

17:14I think they're still but that's that's

17:15where we're at. Yeah.

17:20Um

17:21Yeah, that's that's very limited. This

17:24is really out of our hands right now but

17:26hopefully we should get something very

17:27soon.

17:30>> Okay.

17:30>> It's kind of our answer.

17:32Um operations wise, what's going on in

17:35here these days?

17:37Well, football season of course, you

17:39know, it's in full swing. We're once

17:41again showing

17:43signs of uh

17:45being stressed

17:47when it comes to parking.

17:50We're pretty close to to full on that

17:54last game of Auburn.

17:56Very busy good good weekend though,

17:58especially for Auburn.

18:00Auburn used to be a

18:02a game where we would see 40 airplanes.

18:05And now we're seeing 100 now.

18:07So

18:08and then the last one that we had

18:10Oklahoma

18:12and

18:13that's the last one we had before.

18:15I ended up getting the count on that one

18:17at one point we had 100 106

18:20on the ground.

18:21That was when we encountered a

18:23stop. It was me.

18:27How are you going to close to it? We'll

18:29see how it goes for Missouri.

18:31We know that we're going to have

18:32chartered aircrafts

18:35in Kansas well, so that restricts some

18:38of our parking.

18:42We're also seeing charter operations

18:44increasing.

18:45Right now we've so far since it started

18:48up, we're seeing football, basketball,

18:51volleyball, and soccer teams opposing

18:54teams and

18:55UJ's.

18:57You can expect to see additional

19:00going forward.

19:05Yeah, we've had

19:09We had our our

19:10plane was going up, you know, in the St.

19:13George that are actually flying.

19:17I'm here right now. I know there's

19:19There's numbers around.

19:21We did have an

19:24and plane mass when it comes to what

19:26I've got recently.

19:28I from Devon new things. They run a year

19:32behind, but we've got our 2025

19:35and then 2024.

19:39And the minutes were and the minutes

19:41were a little over 2,000. It was 2,069.

19:45But then 25 it would

19:4727.

19:48It was And it I'm sorry. I can tell you

19:51it would have been 60.

19:53Or is going to

19:5560 students.

19:57Already starting usually about now we'll

19:59just be seeing some football charter.

20:02There are film.

20:04It's It's good. It's good.

20:06Um let's see what else we've got in

20:08here.

20:11We have all that we Last year we finally

20:15implemented special events for

20:17for football games.

20:21Went over Went over okay. That was That

20:23was good with that.

20:25We did expand those

20:27We planned on expanding

20:29to Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

20:32It's about

20:34which is comparable to

20:38Anyway, we did that start of this year.

20:40It's It's been been good.

20:43>> So, where is that showing Do you have it

20:45wrapped up? Does that show up on the

20:46map?

20:47>> Probably not because 2025

20:502025

20:51>> Okay.

20:52But it it would come under like airport

20:54fees?

20:55When it shows up there?

20:58Sorry.

21:00>> Anyway, we've had those going, looking

21:02good. We're When it comes to uh

21:09saving energy, I guess you can say.

21:11We're working on getting to electric

21:13vehicles for ramps. We're getting either

21:17next week or even possibly this week

21:19with a couple charging ports in ramp

21:22side.

21:23And we've got two ramp vehicles that

21:29next week we're going to start

21:30start operations in the morning.

21:32electric

21:34So,

21:35we'll see how See how that goes. See if

21:37those batteries can last a bit.

21:4014 for sure.

21:41>> Mhm.

21:42>> I hope.

21:43Uh I think that's about

21:46It's about all I have for operations. Do

21:48you have any questions?

21:50>> So,

21:51um last week we were talking about

21:52Auburn traffic. So, did we not have to

21:55turn away any uh

21:56>> No, we didn't have to. It got close.

21:59You know,

22:00it got close. They want us When it comes

22:02to closing a runway, shut everything

22:04down. And they say they want us to give

22:06them 45 minutes heads up. Which is

22:10That is challenging. Um

22:12It's really challenging, but we we will

22:15explain.

22:16Got a little close to it, but never

22:22>> Questions? Other questions?

22:30>> But um

22:31when you said charters, are they only

22:33UGA? Do you have any other charters that

22:36you

22:36>> No, they would be they would be um

22:39you know, like the big non-session ones.

22:42>> Usually it's all of our charters, the

22:43majority of them are sports teams.

22:45>> Okay.

22:46>> And if it's not, say University of

22:49Georgia,

22:50it may be a group of fans chartering.

22:54>> So, it's two related.

22:58I understand.

23:00>> That's all to be discussed when we

23:02share.

23:06Where do we find that?

23:10>> Um Abraham, do you have any comments on

23:12the operations and the way things have

23:13been going?

23:15>> I was

23:17>> It's our

23:22>> It was It was a lot to

23:23>> expect for the game.

23:25>> This is the first

23:26We expected it for Oklahoma,

23:28not for Auburn.

23:30>> Well,

23:34>> This is the first one of all, it's going

23:35to be a situation.

23:37Um that's It's It stressed us out in the

23:39tower as well for not knowing

23:41when we're going to tell them to be told

23:43to stop.

23:44>> Mhm. Yes.

23:45>> I don't know.

23:47And that is discussed with you guys

23:49before.

23:51It was told

23:52I suppose I'm just

23:53>> I got to talk to

23:55criminal.

23:56So,

23:58That's basically from Russ.

24:02>> So, who made that decision, did you or

24:04Russ?

24:04>> I will. Yeah. And we we do everything we

24:06can to get every aircraft.

24:08>> It's just we don't hear about it until

24:09we get the the check and you know,

24:11forecast when

24:14Cuz I don't know that one of 45 minute

24:15heads up,

24:16I don't know what's going to happen.

24:18It could be, you know, I talked to one

24:20person, I talked to 50.

24:22So, it's kind of difficult to know what

24:24game when we're going to make that call.

24:27>> You did that. You did that earlier in

24:29the season

24:29>> for Oklahoma

24:32Cuz I was looking at flying to where

24:43That's when we get to that stuff because

24:45we knew what's going to happen.

24:46We didn't see them.

24:49How small are jets? Listen to that. See

24:51what the puncture is in that so

24:54But when it comes to theory

24:58consideration

25:01And we do combustion.

25:02So, we're able to

25:04kind of pull the plug. Now, once we pull

25:06the plug, we can still let the folks in

25:09Athens.

25:10They can fly to Athens. They can have

25:12room to go there. Athens can tell them

25:14who to get, who to fly.

25:16You know, who does.

25:17I probably fly them to come to Athens.

25:20And they're going to continue to get as

25:21many as they can. Hopefully they do.

25:24I don't know if that seems to be the

25:26right way.

25:28Themselves, they will continue to

25:29squeeze the

25:31Athens as much as we can.

25:34>> So, who gives that 45 minute

25:37notification?

25:38>> That's from the Athens requested from

25:41so

25:42>> Okay.

25:44Interesting.

25:48Any other questions about operations?

25:51Do you want to tell them about

25:53the truck angle and what you're going to

25:54do?

25:55>> Yeah,

25:56we've been pretty good. Yeah, the last

25:58night we've

25:59had the pre-construction meeting with

26:00the aircraft.

26:03We all were part of it in here and we

26:04went over a lot of details and

26:07you know, take it with a grain of salt

26:08but they mentioned that we could see the

26:10truck by summer of this next year which

26:13was a lot better than what we previously

26:14thought.

26:15Um tomorrow we're going to PDK. They

26:18have a truck that's almost identical. It

26:20is a type of high reach truck on top but

26:23we're going to go check it out, see how

26:24they have their compartments configured,

26:27talk about their experience with the

26:28truck and

26:30anything they have for us.

26:32Look at their fire station over there.

26:34It's all good stuff. They're working on

26:35the details of it. They're trying to

26:36decide what options they have for us.

26:40Very preliminary.

26:42You know what changed because it was

26:43going to be what you were going to do in

26:44the first place. It's just like a Yeah.

26:46Yeah, they were looking at over 2 years

26:48for a while there. And again, you know,

26:51it's early talks so things could change.

26:53I don't know if they felt some heat from

26:54some of the other departments.

26:56Not necessarily, but I was happy to hear

26:58that.

26:59Yeah.

27:02>> Very good. Any other questions on this

27:04section?

27:07All right, we'll move on then. You can

27:09basically we'll pass through

27:12old business. The Lexington Corridor

27:13update remains to be delivered.

27:17But I think we're in a transition phase

27:19to the next splash

27:21that's coming up in August. So there may

27:23not be anything right now. Again, if

27:25there is, you will need first to know.

27:28Um and actually there isn't any

27:31other business or new business right now

27:33other than what's below.

27:35Um

27:37Keith probably would like to talk with

27:38you about the annual report, which you

27:41have a copy of in front of you.

27:43And there are lots of them around,

27:45aren't they? Where's the pile? I grabbed

27:47you

27:47Anybody wants one? And where else have

27:50you got them, Devon? Do tell.

27:52>> Yeah, they're in the

27:54Uh uh

27:54well, they're at the front desk. Yes,

27:56they're at the front desk.

27:57>> They are freely available to members of

27:59the public.

28:01They're not hidden away. They're nicely

28:03laid out.

28:03So.

28:06Yeah, okay Keith.

28:07>> Well, and uh and uh

28:09David, how many do we have printed?

28:12>> I think

28:12>> Yeah, we printed a copy. Here are the

28:14thousand.

28:14>> Yes, four of them is what I tried to do.

28:16I did a better job this year to

28:18get them uh distributed into cans and

28:20out there and exposed to uh really let

28:23everybody know the good work that the

28:24airport and all that. So

28:26uh

28:27We since we're we abandoned This was for

28:30fiscal year '25,

28:32which ended a little over a year ago.

28:34So,

28:35uh as soon as we get reports

28:38complete financials for fiscal year 26

28:42which ended uh couple of months ago, two

28:44months ago.

28:45Then uh we'll get started as soon as it

28:48makes sense to work on that and we'll

28:50work on it and try to have it

28:52even sooner than this one. So.

28:55So, we have a plan.

28:57>> And it's on the website, too, isn't it?

28:59>> Uh thank you.

29:01It is.

29:01>> Yeah. Anything else from Miss Gavin? Uh

29:04Anything else about it?

29:05>> No, I don't think so.

29:07>> Yeah.

29:07>> You put it on the Facebook page, also?

29:09Is that all right?

29:09>> Uh not on the Facebook page, but we're

29:12I'll make a note that we will do that.

29:14So, we do have

29:15um a UGA student who is now doing some

29:18social media. So, if you saw the

29:20Warbirds Warbirds post

29:23uh yesterday, so uh Diane uh is going to

29:27Frazier is going to help us with that.

29:29So, she met with Amber McColl who is the

29:32um

29:33airport director up at Toccoa and Amber

29:36does a fantastic job with social media

29:39and and her airport there in Toccoa. And

29:41so, she met with Diane to kind of give

29:42her some tips and trips tricks. And um

29:46so, anyway, um

29:47but I'll make sure that the annual

29:48report is is put on social media. So,

29:50thank you, Keith, for that information.

29:53That's it.

29:54>> And who else

29:56do you formally give them to? The mayor

29:58and commission?

30:00City Hall office?

30:01>> Yeah.

30:02>> All departments or how does it work?

30:04>> Just just um mayor and commission. So.

30:07>> Okay.

30:07>> And the mayor's office.

30:09>> Okay.

30:10>> Well, I mean, have a look at it. Any

30:12thoughts as as you as you leaf through

30:14it, you know that a lot of work has gone

30:16into it.

30:17And once again, we thank Keith for being

30:19the

30:20the leading, unstoppable, consistent

30:25dogged leader.

30:28>> Yeah.

30:29>> We really love that.

30:30>> Terrific.

30:32>> Well, it's come a long way, you know,

30:33when I first joined seven and a half

30:34years ago, the

30:37I confess was nothing short of

30:38rinky-dink.

30:40And so, you know, this is a much more

30:42professional job and it has a much more

30:44detailed information in it and and we

30:47it's still text light but it still has a

30:49lot of information in it.

30:53So, you know, anything that we see to

30:55improve with we'll keep working on it.

30:57>> Yes, that's good. Let let me know if you

30:59need anything things you're looking at

31:01for support or anything like that.

31:04>> I wonder if we couldn't have a section

31:06in it on the town, you know, but we

31:08don't really we have the number you

31:10know, numbers here and there but just

31:12that might be something to think about,

31:15you know.

31:17All right, any other thoughts?

31:21Okay.

31:22Operating

31:24Committee, not a thing.

31:27>> I can all these words

31:31>> And I do too and I think there's no

31:32reason to contact you and there's

31:34nothing.

31:35I don't know you know, but there is

31:36development on this side of town but

31:38we're not seeing any proposals.

31:41So

31:42All right, well, you know, as I'm told

31:44Russ we are moving ahead fast.

31:47>> Ladies and gentlemen, pardon us but

31:49I can introduce you

31:51Grab something to eat everybody but

31:53that's just you and me and

31:54us two.

31:55>> Oh, all right, no worries.

31:59>> I think it's not so long.

32:01How you doing? Good to good see you.

32:07>> Okay.

32:11Well, let's move on to the last item of

32:13the agenda or the last section.

32:15I'm going to skip to 9 B to the next

32:18meeting this year and we need to take a

32:20few minutes there. For those of you that

32:22just joined recently, you know, for the

32:24last several years that I can remember

32:26there was always this argument about

32:28well, are we going to meet in November

32:29and everybody would say no about

32:31Thanksgiving, you know, we want to go we

32:33want to be here blah blah blah.

32:35And it's so it it end up being by

32:37default actually but it doesn't mean you

32:39have to do it. Um Um that people agreed

32:42to meet

32:44in one meeting for November and

32:46December.

32:48And they ended up sort of around about

32:50the, you know, the 7th or the 8th or the

32:529th of December.

32:55Um I'm happy to meet in November, but

32:57I'll also be aware of the Thanksgiving,

32:59you know, and so you run into the issue

33:00that this is What is this? 27th?

33:03If you got to meet in early November,

33:05it's too quick. It's too soon off of

33:07this.

33:07Thanksgiving week is out. Everybody's

33:09off doing something, and they need to

33:11be.

33:12So, the suggestion is like in the

33:14previous years, unless you object, you

33:17know, I'm not telling you to do this,

33:18but in previous years, we've kind of

33:20settled on something like the 8th of

33:22December.

33:24You could say the 1st of December, but

33:26that's early after Thanksgiving.

33:29And then the 15th, people are already

33:31starting to be away for the for

33:32Christmas.

33:35So, what do you want to do?

33:36>> Well, I

33:37I'll make a motion we change our

33:39November date and December date to

33:41December 8th.

33:42>> Okay.

33:43>> And um

33:45make the appropriate requirements and

33:46changes with the with the county clerk.

33:49>> Okay.

33:50>> Um

33:51motion to go ahead and do it.

33:52>> Well, I've got a second.

33:55Beth

33:56moves and Keith seconds, which means now

33:59you can discuss.

34:01Any thoughts?

34:04David? Matt?

34:05>> Um I think it's fine.

34:06>> Works for me. Works for me. Works for

34:08me.

34:09>> Okay.

34:11Works for me, I guess.

34:14Devon?

34:14>> Um so, it works for me.

34:15>> I think I I would I would like that we

34:17would be able to be able to have

34:19urgency with the new manager, but I'm

34:21totally able to but apparently that's

34:23not an issue for us, so

34:25>> I mean, I don't We might We might not,

34:27you know, you've got a 50/50 chance. We

34:29will or we won't.

34:30You know, so

34:31>> The 8th is good for me.

34:33>> Yeah.

34:34And then we can have the reporting for

34:36November and probably not December cuz

34:38it's too early, but we'll have the

34:40reporting, you figures and things for

34:42November.

34:44Um the plan for that meeting, I would

34:48suggest, and I suggested this when we

34:50had the agenda setting for this

34:52um agenda, to Keith and Devon and Russ.

34:56So, the four of us mulled it over, and I

34:58suggested and they agreed. I think that

35:00that meeting in December, given

35:02everything that we're waiting for, new

35:04director,

35:06you know,

35:07we're going to be getting a new city

35:08manager, new mayor coming. There's

35:10always change coming.

35:13Um I think that

35:15I would urge, and they agreed, to have

35:17the primary overwhelming focus for that

35:19meeting to be a moderated discussion of

35:23what the airport authority sees as a set

35:26of goals and needs and priorities. All

35:30right. We've all talked about the fact

35:31that it needs to be done, and I think

35:33this is the time to do it. Why a

35:36moderated discussion? Because I think

35:38everybody needs to have a, you know, a

35:40fair opportunity to talk.

35:43People can get carried away and end up

35:45dominating the discussion. I think I

35:47have asked Keith, and he's agreed to

35:49moderate that discussion, because also

35:51it needs to really be

35:54framed, I think, in terms of the

35:56strategic plan. The existing one, and

36:00what things ought to be added to or

36:02updated onto that strategic plan. And

36:05Keith has always been our our chair on

36:08the strategic planning. So, he's agreed

36:10to do that.

36:11Um

36:12and I think, you know,

36:14we've all talked about things that are

36:16needed, or we talked about things that

36:18are desired. Our eyes light up when

36:21certain things are mentioned, you know,

36:24about things that are coming, futuristic

36:26things that are not in the future,

36:27they're more that era already. So, I

36:30would urge you, if we've all agreed, um

36:33well, we haven't agreed yet, you've got

36:34to vote.

36:35All in favor of meeting on the 8th.

36:38Everybody?

36:40Okay. We'll go to vote on the 8th.

36:43I think it would be a good thing to, you

36:45know, to actually

36:47you can we can all communicate a bit by

36:49email or you can at least just still

36:52down your thoughts which may be long and

36:55detailed, but distill them down into

36:58some clear and coherent um ideas on what

37:02priorities need to be.

37:05Um brand new ones or ones that you know

37:07are not in the strategic plan, things

37:09that are in the plan that need to be

37:11perhaps updated.

37:13Um

37:15I have a comprehensive list of needs and

37:17issues and priorities that I've put

37:19together that I shared with the

37:21leadership, but um those will come into

37:23the discussion, I think, on the 8th.

37:25Yeah, Keith.

37:26>> Yeah, but uh

37:27is there any chance we would have have a

37:30rusty hammer or anything

37:31these cities

37:33uh

37:34those, you know, strategic plan that

37:36they rolled down to us

37:38where some of our strategic plans

37:40are in there because they're supporting

37:42the city, you know, the whole thing.

37:44Uh any chance or is it going to be after

37:46then the 8th? You know what I mean? It

37:47doesn't have to be

37:47>> a new one?

37:48>> The uh any new ones. Yes, do we have

37:50anything by then? That we can still keep

37:53going

37:54and incorporate those in in a separate

37:56session later or whatever we need to,

37:58but the ideal if they were

38:00>> Let Let me uh let me check. I'll I'll

38:02check and see what and and I'll I'll

38:05communicate that. If there's any

38:07information

38:08that they have by the time by December

38:118th, I'll make sure that that's included

38:13in the meeting materials, but I'll I'll

38:14check on that and see. And I think it

38:16would be be their final as as opposed to

38:19something they're still debating about.

38:21I'd rather to take the final ones later

38:24than to try to take something may

38:26change.

38:27>> Yeah, so I mean that we're going to end

38:28up agreeing on two levels and that is to

38:30decide what we as the strategy

38:33And I think, you know, as much as is

38:35possible, some sort of consensus needs

38:37to be arrived at. The The The The new

38:40director doesn't need to come in and

38:41find us all at each other's throats,

38:43those things. But there are going to be

38:45some differences of opinion about

38:47things, but they can all be included, I

38:49think, appropriately.

38:51Um

38:52Oh, are are they still using ClearPoint?

38:55>> No, they're not.

38:56>> What are they using now?

38:56>> So, it's a

38:58it's a it's a new uh it's a new system

39:01um

39:02that

39:03I'm trying to remember the name of it.

39:04It's not a separate software system

39:08um but it is

39:12We have quarterly meetings that

39:14focused on the metrics.

39:15>> And it's aligned with the the goals and

39:17the strategic plan goals.

39:19>> That's exactly right.

39:19>> Yeah, yeah. And so, that needs to come

39:22into play as well about how our ideas

39:25align with with the the county's ideas

39:28and their mechanism for charting

39:30progress. Well, you know,

39:32you can talk about strategic objectives

39:34and indicators, etc. But, they're going

39:37to have to be aligned with those of the

39:38county, otherwise we're spinning our

39:40wheels.

39:41Um

39:42So, you know, think about what you

39:44really consider to be important,

39:45including things that actually are not

39:47on on paper yet.

39:50Like what you mentioned.

39:53In those those projects

39:55for for Yeah, retail and so on, you

39:58know.

40:00Um

40:01And

40:02I don't even know, you know, we don't

40:04even have to have a lot of time for

40:05reporting. We can really collapse the

40:07reporting down time-wise to leave the

40:09bulk of the time for this kind of

40:11discussion.

40:13Um and see where we are.

40:15But, I think it would be very helpful if

40:18a new director is appointed and we, you

40:20know, receive the announcement.

40:23Um I've been advised to and I certainly

40:25would plan to, you know, to to invite

40:28the new director to the first available

40:30meeting of the authority and I would

40:33offer to meet with the new director

40:35individually to um you know, as a as a

40:38first step.

40:40Of course, if my offer is ignored, I

40:42can't do anything about it, but

40:43hopefully, you know, it will be

40:46I've If that happens, I'll let you know.

40:50Okay?

40:51So, I mean, I know some of you've been

40:53anxious to get going on this, and I

40:55think we maybe all have. I think

40:57December's a good time to do it.

41:00What do you think?

41:02Keith, I know, you know, you you

41:03invested in our endeavor, and we agreed,

41:05but the rest of you that were not at

41:07that meeting, I mean, sounds like an

41:09obvious time to do it, don't you think?

41:11Cuz the new year's going to be filled

41:12with other things.

41:15>> I think the timing is perfect.

41:16>> Yeah.

41:18An entire time, you know.

41:20So.

41:22Okay? All right. Well,

41:26And Keith's going to keep everybody up

41:28to date.

41:33Keith is going to moderate it. He's

41:34going to be the traffic cop.

41:37Okay, well, thanks very much, everybody,

41:39and we can look forward to the 8th, and

41:41you're going to enjoy Thanksgiving

41:42before that.

41:44So.

41:45So, actually, before we turn ourselves

41:48over to our colleague Russ, we just need

41:50to actually adjourn the meeting. So, if

41:53somebody would like to move that we

41:55adjourn the meeting formally,

41:57I'll entertain it. David.

42:02Okay.

42:03All in favor of adjourning?

42:06All right. We're good to go. So, um

42:10Russ,

42:11what do you want us to do? Follow you?

42:13>> I'll meet you all outside uh

42:15>> On the tarmac?

42:16>> Yeah. On the tarmac right up there.

42:18>> Okay.

42:19>> On the next flight.

42:20>> Okay.

42:21>> I'll be right behind you.

42:23>> All right. Sounds good to me.

42:25Um

42:26Looking forward to it. Thank you,

42:28everybody. Before you all go, have a

42:31nice Thanksgiving. I guess I won't see

42:33you until after this.

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