2024-01-16
Blair Airport Authority Regular Meeting
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Agenda Item #1 – The Blair Airport Authority met in regular session in the City Council
Chambers on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at 7:00 PM and called to order by Chairman Johnson.
The Chairman publicly stated to all in attendance that a current copy of the Nebraska Open
Meetings Act was available for review and indicated the location of such copy posted in the room
where the meeting was being held. Notice of the meeting was given in advance thereof by
publication in the Enterprise or the Pilot -Tribune as shown by the affidavit of publication filed in
the City Clerk's office. Notice of the meeting was simultaneously given to the members of the
Blair Airport Authority and the agenda is filed in the City Clerk's office. Availability of the agenda
was communicated in the advance notice and in the notice to the Blair Airport Authority of this
meeting. All proceedings hereafter shown were taken while the convened meeting was open to the
attendance of the public.
Agenda Item #2 – Roll Call of members – The following were present: Wes Baedke, Dan
Hunt, Dave Johnson, Faye Jones, and Marty Rump. Also, present were City Administrator Green,
Assistant City Administrator Barrow and Heather Olson with Olsson.
Agenda Item #3 – Approval of minutes from the December 19, 2023, meeting – Motion by
Dan Hunt, second by Marty Rump to approve the minutes from the December 19, 2023, meeting.
Board members voted as follows: Wes Baedke: Yea, Dan Hunt: Yea, Dave Johnson: Yea, Faye
Jones: Yea, Marty Rump: Yea. All Board members voted: Yea: 5, Nay: 0. Chairman Johnson
declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #4 – Approval of Financial Reports for December 2023 – Motion by Marty
Rump, second by Wes Baedke to approve the financials as presented for December 2023. Board
members voted as follows: Wes Baedke: Yea, Dan Hunt: Yea, Dave Johnson: Yea, Faye Jones:
Yea, Marty Rump: Yea. All Board members voted: Yea: 5, Nay: 0.
Agenda Item #5 – Presentation by the Glider Club – Steve Rasmussen, 15801 S. 87th St
Papillion, NE, and Byers “Bud” Shaw, 13232 N Riverview Dr., Omaha, NE gave a presentation
on the Glider Club. The mission of the Civil Air Patrol is to ‘Transform youth into dynamic
Americans and aerospace leaders. They showed pictures of the two areas at the airport they have
been working to improve, including a pilot’s lounge where they hope to locate a simulator at some
point in the future. They hope their efforts are contributing to Blair’s airport and not causing any
issues for the other traffic that is operating there. They did respond to a noise complaint with a
personal visit to the concerned neighbor. They exclusively use the grass runway and request the
Authority to give them consideration for the grass runway to remain open during the construction
when the runway is expanded. They would like to have an open house in the future and would like
the Airport Authority to join them. The Authority thanked them for the improvements they have
made at the airport.
Agenda Item #6 – Consider authorizing the Airport Manager to purchase a subscription
from 1200.aero for Automated Operations Tracking Services at Blair Executive Airport (KBTA)
– Assistant City Administrator stated he reached out to the personnel at the Omaha Police
Department (OPD) hangar to see if the Authority could piggyback on their internet connection.
OPD agreed to share the internet in exchange for access to the system. He also reached out to
Columbus Airport to see how they liked this program. They are very pleased with the system and
happy with the customized reports they can receive. This system was cheaper and the only one
that offered radio voice recordings. Board member Baedke asked if this should be reviewed in a
year. Chairman Johnson concurred that it should be reviewed in a year. Motion by Dan Hunt,
second by Faye Jones to authorize the Airport Manager to purchase a subscription from 1200.aero
for Automated Operations Tracking Services at Blair Executive Airport (KBTA) in the amount of
$1800.00. Board members voted: Wes Baedke: Yea, Dan Hunt: Yea, Dave Johnson: Yea, Faye
Jones: Yea, Marty Rump: Yea. All Board members voted: Yea: 5, Nay: 0. Chairman Johnson
declared the motion carried.
Agenda Item #7 – Reports
1) SkyWerx – No Report
2) Maintenance – Staff are working with the snow remover contractors regarding clean up
around the community hangar doors. No complaints have been received.
3) Update on Current Airport Projects – Heather Olson, from Olsson stated the
Obstructions removal project is out for bid with the bid opening on January 30, 2024. They
currently have thirteen interested contractors. The project can either start by April 1 or not until
September to work around the bat season. Because federal funds are being used, the lowest bidder
will be selected. The Authority will not have a choice unless they are not the responsive bidder.
The County Road relocation design is approximately 60% complete. They are meeting with the
county and city to go through questions so they can start talking to utility companies. After that
they will start working on the boundaries for the land purchase.
4) Airport Manager's Report - City Administrator Green stated the first meeting of the ad-
hoc committee to discuss hangar leases will meet this week.
Agenda Item #8 – Adjournment – Motion by Wes Baedke, second by Faye Jones to adjourn
the meeting 7:56 p.m. Board members voted as follows: Wes Baedke: Yea, Dan Hunt: Yea, Dave
Johnson: Yea, Faye Jones: Yea, Marty Rump: Yea. All Board members voted: Yea: 5, Nay: 0.
Chairman Johnson declared the motion carried.
Marty Rump, Secretary
Brenda Wheeler, Recording Secretary