HomeMy WebLinkAboutLaurel Airport Authority Minutes 11.12.2025 (2) LAUREL
AIRPORT
AUTHORITY
658
LAA Board Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2025 (6 pm)
Roll Call: Joe Mutchler, Jim Wise, Randy Hand, Gary Blain, Doug Myers (Randy hand present
by phone, Joe Mutchler ascent, all other members present).
Members of public present: Fred Lee, Chris Jones, Pat (signature unreadable), Mark Boulet,
Brad Sinclair, Chuck Henrichs
Approval of Minutes from previous meeting: 9/23/2025 by unanimous consent (Randy
abstaining as had not seen minutes).
Financial Update (YTD financial summary provided by Beartooth accounting and current
Western security bank summary provided.)
Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items: (None made)
Public Comment on Agenda Items: Public comments welcomed as agenda items discussed
KLJ Engineering:
1. Master Plan and Construction Report/Airport Maintenance Report(KU has provided a written
summary of 6S8 related activities and project status.... See immediately below)
WORK IN PROGRESS
Laurel Airport Master Plan Update
KU#2105-00217 AIP 3-30-0047-024-2022
KU has completed the Airport Master Plan (AMP) and Airport Layout Plan (ALP) updates, and
the ALP has received FAA approval. KU will now proceed into the project closeout phase to
finalize all activities associated with the grant.
Laurel Pavement Maintenance
KU#2305-01826 AIG#3-30-0047-025-2024
American Road Maintenance of Tucson, Arizona, served as the contractor for the project.The
project has reached full completion, and final acceptance has been executed by all parties. KU
has prepared the project closeout report and has submitted a draft version to the Helena ADO
for review. Additionally, the grant amendment letter,signed by the Airport Board Chair, was
submitted in early October for approval. Upon approval of the grant amendment, Pay Estimate
No. 3 will serve as the final payment,thereby completing all financial obligations to the
contractor.
Laurel Access Road - Design and Construction
KU#2405-01024 AIG#3-30-0047-0026-2025
The Project is in the planning phases; construction is planned for the summer of 2026 on a
separate grant. Currently Design is 75%completed. Design staff will continue to work on the
design to be ready for bidding in late winter or early spring.
OTHER ITEMS
KU #2405-01024 Access Road Final Design &CACO for 2026. MDT Aero Draft grant application
has been completed and submitted to the MDT Aeronautics Board.
ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION BY CITY/AIRPORT
Completion of ARM PayEst 2
Completion of Outlay's Outlay 5 (2305-01826- PavMx)
Outlay 6 (2305-01826- PavMx)
Outlay 1 (2405-01024—Access Road Design)
Outlay 2 (2405-01024—Access Road Design)
ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION BY MT Aeronautics
State Fiscal Year 2025 Grant Closeout has been submitted to Aero for PavMx and AWOS
Ceilometer. Awaiting Closeout confirmation.
2. Discuss and approve, redirecting MDT funds from grass runway project to Main RW(4—22) project
(Justin Zindell of KU needs approval from us by Friday the 141h.) A motion made by Jim Wise and
seconded by Doug Myers and passed by unanimous consent to redirect funding intended for grass
RW project towards RW 4-22 project.
New Business:
1. Discuss and approve: Rural Broadband of Billings coming out to install internet service for us on
Friday 11/14 at 9/am. Their service will replace that of current provider WispWest. John
Roberts is willing to come out to assist.A motion made by Gary Blain and seconded by Jim Wise
and passed by unanimous consent to move forward on project as currently scheduled.
2. Discuss and approve ... an "official"waiting list regarding lots on Cory. Doug has put together a
list of applicants (by date of interest expressed)for each lot. A motion made by Gary Blain and
seconded by Randy Hand and passed by unanimous consent to accept waiting list as currently
configured:
Lot 2635 Cory for Fred Lee (application for lease on 4/4/2025)
Lot 2625 for Chuck Henrichs (application for lease on 4/4/2025)
Lot 2615 for Brad Sinclair (application for lease on 4/4/2025)
Lot 2605 for Bill Austin(application for lease on 4/4/2025)
3. Discussion re KU required criteria for building of lots on Cory. Motion made by Gary Blain and
seconded by Doug Myers and passed by unanimous consent to accept plan forward: KU needs
to survey lots to confirm corners and confirm max bldg. sizes of 60' wide by 70' deep. Hangar
surveys and topo survey be done. All grading and building design will be reviewed. The
assumption is that all 4 lots will share utility costs etc equally.
4. Discuss and Approve Jim Wise (or any other Board members)to sign our pending lease
requests in absence of Chairman. Motion made by Gary Blain and seconded by Doug Myers and
passed by unanimous consent, to allow all board members present at meetings, to sign lease
requests in the absence of a chairman.
5. Discuss and approve ... a request from Ed Taylor to lease 2405 DeFrance (previously held by Jim
Schaak)to build on the vacant lot there. Ed has already expressed interest via email, and has
completed a 50-year non-commercial lease and signed it. A motion was made by Jim Wise and
seconded by Gary Blain and passed by unanimous consent that we table the signing of Ed's lease
until we have received a statement of lease release from Jim Schaak who currently holds the
lease for that lot address. Doug Myers will call Jim Schaak and request the statement of release.
6. Discuss and approve ... a request from Tony George to lease 2307 East Stormont(previously
held by Donna McKamy). Tony has already expressed interest via email, and has completed a 50
year lease and signed it. A motion made by Gary Blain and seconded by Jim Wise and passed by
unanimous consent, to sign Tony's lease and it was done. Doug Myers will mail a signed copy to
Tony and another copy will be kept in the fireproof safe/cabinet.
7. Jim Wise will submit a letter of intent to lease the lot at 2308 Powers(the lot that has been
previously considered for parking). Jim has already expressed interest in a lease via email, and
will work with KU to confirm lot and max hangar boundaries. A motion made by Gary Blain and
seconded by Randy Wise and passed by unanimous consent,to supply Jim with a draft lease ...
pending confirmation of the lot and hangar dimensions from KU.
8. Discuss the request of a balloon operator, Mark Boulet,to rent space for his equipment trailer
and to launch from 6S8. Doug Myers has had conversations with MT Aeronautics (Stephen
Torske) regarding the subject and will relay them to the Board. Mark would like to launch from
and/or recover balloons at 6S8. Chris Jones is also a balloon operator who would operate in
conjunction with Mark. A 100' x100' launch area was discussed and requested. It was not
stated directly if the operation would be commercial or recreational. The board members
present expressed concerns regarding not only the impact on the safety of air traffic departing
from and landing at Laurel airport, but also concerns regarding balloon flight issues affecting the
nearby KBIL airspace. A motion was made by Gary Blain and seconded by Jim Wise and a
unanimous vote was taken to table the issue pending discussion and further research.
9. Prairie Dog update: Jim Schaak has a certified pest exterminator that he is familiar with who is
going to get a proposal to us for exterminating prairie dogs (all the way up to the gun
range). We have received nothing from him yet. Gary Blain has provided a reference to an
exterminator who did good work for a family member. Call "Jackie" at 307-949-0063.
10. Maintenance Minute .... Be advised of the following issues:
a. The SRE building could really use 3 garage door openers(to be installed on each of the 3
access doors that only can be opened manually). They are difficult and awkward to
open manually. Short term,Jim Wise and Ben Krause will adjust manually.
b. The diesel fuel trailer that is in the SRE building (and is used to fuel the tractors, snow
plow etc) needs a new electric fuel transfer pump. Murl will get an estimate for R or R.
c. The little red (Case)tractor needs work done (likely on the preheat system) as we are
having difficulty staring it. Murl thinks that the starter itself is ok. Murl will transport to
get a repair estimate.
A motion was made by Jim Wise and seconded by Gary Blain and a unanimous vote was taken to
get estimates regarding the costs associated with each of the above issues to help with direction
decisions.
Laurel Airport Authority
P.O. Box 242 Laurel, MT 59044
406-628-0172