HomeMy WebLinkAboutLaurel Airport Authority Minutes 03.31.2025
Laurel Airport (6S8)
Authority
P.O. Box 242
Laurel, MT 59044-0242
Laurel Airport Rd.
Special Meeting Minutes
March 31, 2025
07:00 PM
Roll Call - Board Members Present: Joe Mutchler, Jim Wise, Doug Myers, Randy Hand
Public Guests Present: Scott Frank, Charlie Vance, John Roberts, Brad Sinclair, Bret
McKenney, Murl Williams, Ben Schaak, Matt Schaak, Jim Schaak, Matt S(?), Jim S(?), Bill
Austin, Braydon Sinclair, Justin Zindell
Previous Mtg Minutes Approval: Minutes approved from previous meeting on 1/28/2025.
(Feb 25th meeting was cancelled without explanation by Shane Linse.)
Financials Update:
1. Cody of Beartooth Accounting is taking over from Steve Cosner. Going forward, we
will work with her to send out lease invoices etc.
2. Financial Update provided showing current balances: We have @ $17,000 in our
checking acct and @ $23,000 in our savings acct.
3. Current Expenses. Normal and recurring for power and utilities, etc.
4. We need to vote to remove old names and add new names for checking account
authorized access.
Claims Reviewed / Approved: Claims approved without exception.
Public Comments / Non-agenda items (3 minutes):
1. John Roberts: Jim Roberts has requested copies of FAA letters regarding
conformance issues. John has offered to help the board with the set up of an office
computer and associated peripherals (printer, scanner etc).
2. Brad Sinclair: Requesting info on building a 70’W and 60’D non-commercial hangar
at 2615 Cory. He will obtain and share utility access cost info with us.
3. Jim Schaak retracts his option to build / lease upon the lot at 2605 Cory.
Reports: KLJ Engineering – Master plan and Construction updates (Justin Lindell):
1. R.I.F. affecting FAA. Matt Johnson replaced by Roxanne Trotta (sp?).
2. Master plan progress is still expected.
3. Need RW closure equipment returned by American Road Maintenance. KLJ could pull
their bond, but need to get final markings done to close out project and so may need
to get Roxanne Trotta involved to press for closure on project.
4. We need to move forward in design phase on Fox Road construction project. May
split over ‘25/’26 seasons to maximize available funding. We can bank another year
of entitlement funding and end with a total of 1.2mm.
5. There may be possible AIP grant $$$ for mill and overlay of 04-22 RW and main TW.
KLJ is enquiring.
6. $88,000 AIP grant for Fox road paving … Joe signed FAA grant application following
approved motion and vote to apply for grant.
New Business:
1. Motions and vote to approve new Chairman … Joe Mutchler elected.
2. Motions and vote to approve new Vice Chairman … Jim Wise elected.
3. Motions and vote to approve new Secretary … Doug Myers elected.
4. Need to retain new LAA Board attorney with aviation experience: Will approach Brent
Brooks regarding interest and availability to work with us.
5. Joe Mutchler to draft a response to the FAA regarding LAA compliance with regard to
economic discrimination complaint issues. A motion was made and voted on to give
approval to the effort.
6. We need to schedule and hold a special meeting to address lack of operational bylaws
for the Laurel Airport. We have been operating without known bylaws since at least
2018.
o The Bylaws are needed to assure consistent airport board operations
o Are needed to assure consistency for board members and airport users
alike
o We may be able to retrieve them from Mark Smith son of Doc Smith (in PA).
7. We may need to approach the City of Laurel and the C ity Attorney for help in
addressing the apparent lack of return to the LAA of lease records, embossers,
stamps etc. held by Shane Linse. Also we may need their help in addressing former
LAA attorney Scott Greens lack of willingness to respond to any inqui ries saying in
effect he “works only with Shane Linse”.
8. Jim Schaak (JS Ag Air Service) presented a Part 137 compliance presentation
(which will be saved within our records) with regard to the temporary spray operation
that he operates out of Laurel:
o He operates as a transient and not permanent operator out of 6S8.
o 6S8 is a satellite site and not a primary location / base of operations.
o He operates as a transient operator as does the BLM.
o Only about 36 % of his 2024 operations were conducted out of Laurel.
o He has previously requested them, but has never been provided with, Part
137 minimum operating standards for the Laurel airport.
o He operates within the minimum chemical volume standards that the State
has set for non-containment requirements.
o He carries a high coverage blanket insurance policy.
o His hangar serves to only store his airplane, and is never been used to meet
with customers or is used to store chemical.
o Jim will work toward letter of agreement with the board and the FBO to use
western area of ramp to operate from.
o Jim and Brett and the LAA will determine location/dimensions/gps coord.
o LAA will then agree to circumstances and conformance of his operation.
9. An agenda item was tabled to be addressed at a later meeting regarding the
need to better lock up / secure LAA related information at the pilot lounge .
10. John Roberts was authorized to look into computer/scanner and computer.
11. We will work with Security bank regarding the authorization to change signature
cards to reflect current board members.
Meeting Adjourned @ 9:00 PM.
All motions at meeting were approved unanimously.
.
Doug Myers
LAA Board Secretary