HomeMy WebLinkAboutLaurel Airport Authority Minutes 01.20.2026
Meeting Minutes - January 20, 2026
Roll Call: Doug Myers, Jim Wise, Gary Blain, Joe Mutchler, Randy Hand (All members
present)
Public Members Present: Jacob Schneller, Brad Sinclair, Fred Lee, Ed Taylor
Approved without exception: Minutes from previous meeting: 12/16/2025
Financial Update:
• Balance Sheet discussed (As of Dec 31 2025)
• Profit & Loss discussed (Jan thru Dec 2025)
• Per Joe Mutchler:
o We are at a decision point where we need to develop a path forward re
financing. Our current funding may accommodate GA activities, but will not
cover growth enough to bring in corp. or jet traffic. We are really growth limited
right now financially. Any expenses above normal will be a financial issue.
o We should have an airport wide discussion with all users to get their opinions.
o In the future, because we are “developed” (with regard to hangars) we will have
to use our own funding to conduct taxilane work and not grant money. We will
not be able to use main taxiway funds to do interior taxilane project work.
o We need ideas regarding our financial path forward:
▪ Should we charge transient landing fees? MT Aeronautics may encourage.
▪ Montana Aeronautics have 3% interest loans available nut must be repaid.
Consider loans to build hangars (commercial?) to raise revenue?
▪ Consider charging frequent users of 6S8 like Rocky or Billings Flying
Services? The Chinooks are about 50,000 # and doing RW damage?
▪ Could Tim Sheehy’s office be contacted and of help?
▪ BLM was contacted but no commitment was made re firefighting staging.
▪ Would DNRC be a possibility?
Claims: Reviewed & Approved (Joe / Doug): Summary of checks paid discussed
Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items: Please limit to 3 minutes
Discussions:
• Brad Sinclair has dropped off two sets of plans for his proposed building to be erected
on 2615 Cory. He has requested a tan exterior color. Unanimous vote was taken (Joe /
Ji) to require all new buildings on Cory to be white in color.
• Ed Taylor requests that (for 2405 DeFrance) he be given an opportunity to allow his own
contractor (Brain Hein) to develop drainage plan rather than rely exclusively on KLJ (and
be subject to their pricing). As bottom-most lot on that row, Ed should not have to bear
cost of any “uphill” mis-handled hangar drainage issues. Brian Hein will examine system
on 1/30.
Public Comment on Agenda Items: Please limit to 3 minutes
Reports: KLJ Engineering-Master Plan and Construction Report
• The LAA Board and Cory lot leasers need to decide on KLJ providing “full services” vs
only lot a corner info.
• A motion was made and unanimously approved (Jim / Doug) to allow Joe Mutchler to
sign lot leases for Cory projects.
• Bill Austin needs to affirm that he will be leasing a lot on Cory.
• We may be eligible for SRE and mowing equipment grant money (Based on KLJ calc’s).
KLJ WORK IN PROGRESS
Laurel Airport Master Plan Update
KLJ # 2105-00217 AIP 3-30-0047-024-2022
KLJ has completed the Airport Master Plan (AMP) and Airport Layout Plan (ALP) updates, and the ALP
has received FAA approval. KLJ will now proceed into the project closeout phase to finalize all activities
associated with the grant.
Laurel Pavement Maintenance
KLJ #2305-01826 AIG #3-30-0047-025-2024
American Road Maintenance of Tucson, Arizona, served as the contractor for the project. The project
has achieved full completion, and final acceptance has been executed by all parties. KLJ has prepared
the project closeout report and submitted a draft to Helena ADO for review. In addition, the grant
amendment letter, signed by the Airport Board Chair, was submitted in early October for approval and
has since been approved. Pay Estimate No. 3 will serve as the final payment, thereby satisfying all
remaining financial obligations to the contractor. KLJ will proceed with finalizing the final pay estimate,
completing the closeout process, and compiling the final project closeout report.
Laurel Access Road - Design and Construction
KLJ #2405-01024 AIG #3-30-0047-0026-2025
The project is currently in the design phase, with construction anticipated for the summer of 2026 under
a separate grant. The design is approximately 90 percent complete. A final survey is planned to obtain
additional data on the existing access road to support completion of the final design. Upon receipt of
this data, the plans will be finalized and prepared for final review and the engineer’s stamp.
At this time, work is ongoing on the Final Design, Bidding, Construction Administration and Observation,
and Closeout scopes of services. Once the solicitation for asphalt testing is issued, the scope of work can
be fully completed, and it will be determined whether this phase will require an Independent Fee
Estimate (IFE). Staff will continue advancing the design and FAA Grant Applications in order to be
prepared for bidding in late winter or early spring.
OTHER ITEMS
• KLJ #2405-01024 Access Road Final Design & CACO for 2026. MDT Aero Draft grant application
has been completed and submitted to the MDT Aeronautics Board.
• Cory Hangar – Task Order Agreements – Draft Agreement has been completed Signatures on
January 26th 2026.
• DeFrance Hanger for Ed Taylor - Task Order Agreements – Draft Agreement has been completed
Signatures on January 26th 2026.
2 ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION BY CITY/AIRPORT
• Completion of SF271 for RFR 3 (Design Grant – Access Road)
• Delphi Access Authorization Signature for Sheila
• KLJ Invoices
ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION BY CITY/AIRPORT
• Completion of SF271 for RFR 3 (Design Grant – Access Road)
• Delphi Access Authorization Signature for Sheila
• KLJ Invoices
Maintenance Report:
• The smaller “little red” Case tractor was having starter issues and Murl transported it to
Galvin Repair to be fixed. The cost of the repair was $175.
• Jim Wise is in contact with Mead Lumber about the garage door opener options for the
three garage doors at the SRE building. They would be @$2,273 for three (estimate
attached). Jim Wise and Ben Krause can install them. Voted (Gary / Randy) unanimously
to approve installation. Approx. two weeks for delivery. Randy offered to run power to
the openers.
• Murl ordered, received, and installed replacement blade edges for the large snow plow.
New Business:
a. Airport entry gate operational concerns: The gate is operating properly, but is deflected at
the top of its open cycle (when the wind is strong) and it closes improperly then into its catch at
the bottom. We discussed option of installing a kill switch to allow the gate to be operationally
locked out and signage displayed to direct traffic into and out of the manually gate nearby (to the
north). Randy will look into an option of a wind sensor. Maybe there is an internal shutoff
which could be mounted externally(shutting down both AC power supply, as well as backup
battery power).
b. Perimeter Fence Integrity: Jim Wise has communicated to Heath Olson that (following the
high wind event which removed Heath’s hangar roof) that he needs to repair sections of the fence
where Heath’s roofing panels blew into the fence and broke section of the fencing lose from the
posts. Heath assured Jim that he had tuned the issue into his insurance company. If Heath or his
insurance company do not take action, Jim Wise will call him again.
c. Jacob Schneller Ag Spray Operation: Jacob has provided copies of an operating plan and
business summary with schematics of proposed loading area north of Jim Schaak’s area. Jim is
leasing his area from the FBO and Jacob will be leasing from the airport. Both at same cost rate.
Jacob Schneller and Jim Schaak leases are identical with the exception of actual areas leased, and
“owners” of the ramp spaces used (FBO vs Airport). A unanimous vote (Gary /Randy) was taken
to approve Jacob’s Ag Spray operation at 6S8.
d. FBO and Airport Ramp Security Cameras. Previous Bret McKenney and Doug Myers
discussion: Maybe airport and FBO should share costs on security cameras installed to view
FBO parking area, main entry gate area, FBO and airport ramps areas? We need to find an
“expert” who could consult with us on cameras, motion sensors, connecting to internet etc.
e. WX info for METAR publication: Both John Roberts and Doug Myers contacted AWI and
they activated our service to the METAR system so now our automated weather info is
automatically published as a METAR for Garmin Pilot, Foreflight use etc.
Old Business:
a. Airport webpage moving to the City of Laurel: We can’t use City servers. They are
contract servers with another provider and there is no space for us on them.
b. Airport webpage links for hangar development and registration: Randy is in talks with
Brock Williams and the City of Laurel.
c. Abandoned aircraft on FBO ramp: The Piper Tomahawk is owned by Bret Nd Tom and
they have pledged to remove it. They are actively trying to sell it now. A sale fell trough
recently to a buyer in Circle, MT. The Bonanza is owned by a man with medical problems and
who is in a facility for care. Bret is in talks with his brother and making an active attempt to
purchase the Bonanza from him. Bret will keep us apprised of the progress. He has informed
the brother that the LAA Board is intent on have both airplanes removed, certainly by next snow
season.
d. FAA compliance: Joe is in communication with Mandi in Seattle with the FAA. She is
reviewing his latest edits of our Minimum Operating Standards revisions, and we hope to soon
have her closure on the issue.
Laurel Airport Authority
P.O. Box 242 Laurel, MT 59044
406-628-0172
Doug Myers
LAA Board Secretary
406-633-5299