181126 Airport Advisory MIN=
ATTENDANCE
Henry Atkinson, Euclid Benoit, Valerie Durston (until 12:45 p.m.), Geoffrey Lee, Rick Lee, John Prno, Staff: Annette Murray, Dan Locke Guests: Councillor-Elect Deb Gilvesy MEMBERS ABSENT/REGRETS
Mel Getty, Jeremy Stockmans, Richard Van Maele
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 12:12 p.m. Euclid Benoit sat as the Chair and John Prno
acted as Recording Secretary for the meeting. Chair Benoit announced that as this was the
final Committee meeting for the Council term, the primary goal would be to provide a list of
outstanding items for consideration and follow-up by the new Committee.
2. Adoption of Agenda
Resolution #1
Moved By: Valerie Durston Seconded By: Rick Lee
THAT the Agenda as prepared for the Airport Advisory Committee meeting of November 26,
2018, be adopted.
Carried
3. Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
None Declared
4. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting
4.1. Minutes of the Meeting of September 11, 2018
The Corporation of the Town of Tillsonburg
AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
November 26, 2018
12:00 p.m.
Tillsonburg Regional Airport Boardroom
244411 Airport Rd., South-West Oxford MINUTES
Airport Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes, November 26, 2018 - 2 -
Resolution #2
Moved By: Geoff Lee Seconded By: Henry Atkinson
THAT the Minutes of the Airport Advisory Committee Meeting of September 11, 2018,
be approved.
Carried
5. Delegations and Presentations
None
6. General Business & Reports
6.1 Moving Forward
Given the tight timeline existing, Chair Benoit offered to immediately send out the call for
new Committee members to the Committee’s list of hangar owners and tenants,
encouraging interested parties to submit nominations by the November 30th deadline.
Discussion then took place with the Committee members providing the following
suggestions for the transition to, and consideration by the new Tillsonburg Airport
Advisory Committee (TAAC):
- The Airport Manager continue her past practice of providing an orientation package
for the new committee, including copies of recent minutes, this list of items and the
most recent maps of potential expansion opportunities.
- Reduce the existing barriers to generating new “immediate” development at the
airport. This includes streamlining both internal (Town of Tillsonburg) and external
(South-West Oxford and other) approval processes, and creating a formalized step-
by-step process map to direct those interested in building on the airport property.
This would eliminate any surprises as new development moves forward.
- In the longer term, no item is more critical to the Airport moving forward, than
completion of the long awaited Master Plan to support the concept work previously
done. In November 2016, Council received Staff Report OPS 16-31 Airport
Comprehensive Review and subsequently referred the recommendations back to
the Airport Advisory Committee. The Committee fully supported the improvements in
the Review and recommended the following funding schedule:
o Self-Serve Fueling Conversion (2017)
o Crack Sealing (2017)
o Hydro (Three-Phase Power) Infrastructure Update (2018)
o Water System Improvements (2018)
Airport Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes, November 26, 2018 - 3 -
o Woodlot Removal to allow for a 5,000 ft runway (2019)
o Finalize Master Plan (2019)
The fueling conversion, crack sealing and water system improvements were
completed during 2017. In December 2017, the Committee was advised that for
Budget purposes, the Master Plan would be moved up to consideration in 2018 while
the Hydro Infrastructure work would be delayed to 2019. Staff felt that having the
Master Plan completed first, was a requirement to better determining future Hydro
needs. Despite this change, the Committee was advised in March 2018 that the
Master Plan and associated works had been deleted from the 2018 Budget. At that
time, the Committee expressed its disappointment of the deferral by resolution and
reiterated to Council, “the need for the Master Plan and the importance of the related
improvements in the continued growth of the Airport.” A similar resolution was
generated at the September 11, 2018 Committee meeting, in anticipation of the 2019
Budget process.
Outstanding at the present time are the following capital work items, critical to
ongoing development of the Airport:
o Finalize Master Plan
o Hydro Infrastructure Update
o Woodlot Removal to allow for a 5,000 foot runway
7. Correspondence
None
8. Other Business
8.1. Fueling Costs
In response to a Committee member’s question about the difference in fuel cost
between the Tillsonburg and St. Thomas airports, Annette Murray confirmed that there
has been no change to the airport’s “profit margin”. Fuel costs change constantly and
Tillsonburg is traditionally among the lowest cost airports. For whatever reason, e.g.,
greater volume purchases, etc., this year St. Thomas has been able to provide
significantly lower prices, and has certainly attracted business. Fuel sales are down
approximately 15% in Tillsonburg, but this could also be due to a poor weather flying
season this year. There have also been issues with the self-serve fueling facility which
may be impacting sales. A poll of area airport fuel costs was distributed showing that
Tillsonburg remains among the lowest cost airports. Annette continues to work with the
Airport Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes, November 26, 2018 - 4 -
fuel facility provider to improve reliability, and will continue to monitor fuel prices and
consumption for the Committee.
8.2. Miller Hangar Update
In response to a Committee member’s question about apparent lack of progress on the
Miller Hangar, Dan Locke indicated that Staff continued to monitor the situation and work
with Mr. Miller on completion of the hangar. A second committee member noted that
there appeared to be work being done after hours inside the hangar on a daily basis.
9. Closed Session
None
10. Next Meeting
Chair Benoit and Dan Locke thanked the Committee members for their commitment over the
past four years, with a special mention to Henry Atkinson who has announced his departure
from the Committee after more than twenty years! In his parting comments, Henry
expressed his ongoing concern that the lack of a completed Master Plan has been used by
Council to prevent interested parties from building at the Airport. He expressed optimism
that the new Council would see the benefits of additional development at this important
Town asset. The Master Plan, whether completed or not, should always be considered a
guide to airport development, allowing for flexibility when opportunities arise.
The membership, as well as date and time of the next meeting of the renamed Tillsonburg
Airport Advisory Committee will be announced at a future date.
11. Adjournment
Resolution #3
Moved By: Henry Atkinson Seconded By: Geoff Lee
THAT the Airport Advisory Committee Meeting of November 26, 2018 be adjourned at 1:05
p.m.
Carried