MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY

COMMISSIONERS MEETING

August 30, 2005

The Board of County Commissioners for Cecil County met for a special session at the County Administrative Building, 107 North Street, Elkton, MD on August 30, 2005. The following members of the Board were present:

Nelson K. Bolender, President

Harry A. Hepbron, Vice President

William C. Manlove, Commissioner

Mark H. Guns, Commissioner

Constituting a full Board.

The meeting was called to order by President Bolender at 7:00 p.m.

- PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING -

The purpose of this meeting is for the presentation of the 20-year Airport Master Plan for the Cecil County Airport.

Mr. Robert Powell, President, Raintree Corporation thanked the Board for the opportunity to present the 20-year Airport Master Plan for the Cecil County Airport for public review. Mr. Powell gave a brief history of the Cecil County Airport and future expansion plans including a possible lease/acquisition of County-owned property adjacent to the airport.

Mr. Ashish Solanki, MAA Director of the State of Maryland Regional Aviation Division provided the State of Maryland’s criteria required by the Maryland Aviation Administration for qualification of any State funding and the importance of fostering and supporting small airports.

Mr. Reiner Pelzer, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission presented the FAA System Plan comments. He outlined the requirements for the Regional Airport System Plan and the funding available at the State and Federal levels. He further outlined the criteria eligibility for funding sources and recommended the Board’s support for the Cecil County Airport in obtaining these goals.

Chris Fales, McFarland-Johnson, Inc., presented a Power Point presentation of the Cecil County Airport Master Plan, a long-range planning document showing the ultimate recommended airport development of the Cecil County Airport. The Capital Improvement Plan is outlined as follows:

· 2005 Relocation of Raintree Lane

· 2005 Relocate On-Airport Residence

· 2006 Relocate Terminal, Parking

· 2006 Construction of two Corporate Hangars

· 2007 Relocate Taxiway C

· 2008 Construct Hangars & Taxi lane

· 2008 Install AWOS

· 2009 Extend Runway 13 & T/W A (Phase I)

· 2010 Extend Runway 13 & T/WA (Phase II)

Currently Cecil County Airport houses 50 single-engine or light twin-engine aircraft and is forecasting to accommodate up to 100 aircraft, contingent upon improvements in their long-range plan.

Mr. Fales presented the existing layout of the airport and the proposed airport development. He also presented several layout alternatives relative to the runway extension. Due to economical constraints of the property, the most economically viable solution for the runway extension would be to lease/purchase 49.1 acres of property owned by the County, the former Cecil County Landfill. This acquisition will allow the extension of the runway to approximately 4,200 feet.

COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS:

President Bolender questioned the acquisition of the property at this time, as it is not forecasted in the Master Plan until 2009.

Mr. Pelzer advised the Board that there is State Funding available for peripheral airports meeting the criteria.

Commissioner Guns asked if there are any other known airports located on former landfills.

Mr. Powell responded and stated there are several facilities in Cecil County that were former landfills, namely, the Elkton Little League Park and the Hollingworth Manor Recreation Area. He stated that engineering studies have been completed by Fred Ward Associates, and their findings have concluded that this site would be suitable for the proposed expansion.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Pat Ulrich - commented in support of the expansion of the Cecil County Airport.

John Mulvey – commented in support of the expansion of the Cecil County Airport.

Dr. Richard Nando – commented in support of the expansion of the Cecil County Airport and the economic gains it will offer.

Alice DiPaloa – commented in support of the expansion of the Cecil County Airport and the economic impact of her business the airport provides.

Walter Granger – commented in support of the expansion of the Cecil County Airport.

Klauss Schmidt – commented in support of the expansion of the Cecil County Airport.

Hank Passi – commented in support of the expansion of the Cecil County Airport and the economic vitality of this project.

Michael Lenette – commented in support of the Cecil County Airport.

Judge Dexter Thompson – commented in support of the Cecil County Airport.

Tom McWilliams – commented in support of the Cecil County Airport and the economic impact the Airport brings into the County.

Joyce Bowlsbey – directed a question to Mr. Solanki relating to the amount of money the State of Maryland allocates yearly to private airports.

Mr. Solanki stated that $1 Million Dollars annually is allocated for 17 airports.

Henry Schrenk – commented in support of the Cecil County Airport.

Pat Conway – commented in opposition to expansion at the Cecil County Airport.

Joseph Martinuk – commented relative to neighboring property he owns and the economic impact of that property, as a result of any acquisition and expansion of the Cecil County Airport.

The Public Information Meeting concluded at 8:50 P.M.

___________________________________

Alfred C. Wein, Jr.

County Administrator

Approved:

____________________________

Nelson K. Bolender, President