Sangamon Sun

Logan County Airport/Farm Committee met Feb. 5.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Mr. Rohlfs called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

A motion was made by Mr. Farmer, seconded by Mr. Sanders, to approve the minutes from the January 8, 2018 meeting as printed. Motion passed.

Old Business:

1) Hangar Rents – Tenants in Arrears: Mr. Rohlfs discussed a letter in everyone’s packet to a tenant passed due on hangar rent, and as of February 1st owes a total of $6,924. He stated that he wanted to make the Committee aware of it. Curt Fox asked if this was for 1 hangar. Mr. Rohlfs reported that it was for rent owed on 4 different hangars. Mr. Sanders asked if this has been going on for a while. Mr. Rohlfs stated yes. Mr. Sanders asked when the County would give the tenant an order to vacate. Mr. Fox asked if all 4 hangars in arrears had airplanes in them. Mr. Rohlfs discussed that it is for 4 past situations, and 1 person with 4 different locations. Mr. Sanders asked if he still rented at the Airport. Mr. Rohlfs stated yes, and that he’s is in a location he’s not supposed to be in. He discussed this meaning that another tenant is subletting the hangar to this gentleman. Mr. Sanders stated that he thinks the Board needs to move forward with getting this tenant out. Mr. Rohlfs discussed wanting to get paid. He discussed having to serve a notice on the person subletting the hangar also. Mr. Rohlfs stated that he appreciated Mr. Sanders’ suggestions. Mr. Sanders discussed that if this is prolonged he doesn’t feel it is in the County’s favor and they could have tenants in there who pay rent. Mr. Ruben discussed that after the letters/notices have been sent, they could lock the doors to the hangars and hold the planes inside for payment of rent. He discussed making sure they follow the correct legal steps when doing so. Mr. Rohlfs stated that at next month’s meeting they would probably be voting to approve the State’s Attorney to file suit. He discussed that this hasn’t always worked, and that a majority of the money has been collected without any action. Mr. Rohlfs discussed that they have never billed for hangars and that he doesn’t feel the County should be responsible for billing for hangar rent. He stated that it is the tenants’ responsibility and that wording is now stated in the lease. He discussed that there also has never been a $10 service charge before. Mr. Sanders asked if there was wording in the lease that stated if the tenant was in arrears from a previous contract that they would not be granted another one. Mr. Rohlfs stated that it was not. Mr. Sanders stated that may stop this kind of thing moving forward. Mr. Rohlfs stated that the problem was that previously there were never leases even signed. He stated that this would be discussed again next month.

2) First Flight Aviators / Hangar 23: Mr. Rohlfs discussed a letter in the packets for a method with helping out with the rent. He stated that last time that it was discussed in Committee, they thought he might have had contracts for the ones receiving flying training. Mr. Rohlfs discussed that he has applications instead, ages 16 thru 21, but no yearly contracts. He stated that the Committee would then have to look at training time. He stated that he has not sent out the letter yet and wants the Committee to go through it. Mr. Rohlfs discussed number 1 where it says rent from October 1 thru September 30 shall be paid according to the lease terms, without the $10 late fees thru March 2018. He discussed that the tenant is more than willing to pay and catch up on the rent once the Committee decides what to charge. Mr. Ruben and Mr. Rohlfs discussed that the letter looks good, but they need to come up with a figure to put in the line for a credit, such as $5, $8, or $10. Mr. Sanders asked if anyone else was involved with this program besides Mr. Miller. Mr. Rohlfs stated that it was just Mr. Miller in this area at this time. Mr. Ruben asked if Curt Fox had any  suggestions. Mr. Fox stated that he did not. Mr. Ruben asked what his current rent was. Mr. Rohlfs stated that it was $76 per month. There was discussion about how many students there would be per month. Mr. Rohlfs discussed the procedure of how the County would credit the instructional hours at the end of the year. There was discussion about classroom instruction time versus flying time. Mr. Rohlfs discussed wanting to give the credit per air time, instead of classroom instruction time. Mr. Fox agreed with Mr. Rohlfs. The Committee agreed to give the credit per air time/flying time. Mr. Rohlfs stated that First Flight Aviators is a not-for-profit corporation.

New Business:

1) I.P.S. Community Solar Garden: Mr. Rohlfs discussed Section F and that it would have to be eliminated before the County would be interested. Mr. Fox asked for detail on this topic. Mr. Ruben discussed this was for solar power panels that get put up in a grid. Mr. Fox asked if someone wanted to do this at the Airport. Mr. Rohlfs stated that yes, someone had inquired about this. He stated that they would be in multiples of 8 acre plots, as little as 8 or as large as 32 acres. Mr. Schaffenacker asked where these would go. Mr. Sanders stated that they had said the best spot would be across from Lincoln Christian University. Mr. Rohlfs discussed that there were maps in everyone’s packet. He stated that he spoke with Dennis Ramlow, who farms the County ground, and suggested land that would be out to the west of runway 3, which is an 18.3 acre area that is oddly shaped and hard to farm, but the land is flat. Mr. Rohlfs stated that the panels have to face direct south. He discussed asking the solar company if the panels were reflective because they may not be allowed then. Mr. Fox discussed this having to be vetted through the FAA and IDOA. Mr. Schaffenacker and Mr. Rohlfs discussed that the company has requested the usage from the County Ameren bills. Mr. Schaffenacker asked if they were proposing to cover a percentage of the County’s electrical usage. Mr. Blankenship stated that contingent on the size of the farm or garden, they are allowed to sell a certain percentage of subscriptions, which is contract to purchase energy from the solar company for a period of time. He stated that the solar company had said that the County could see approximately 10% savings on the electric bills through this. Mr. Blankenship discussed using up the subscription with all County properties, if this solar garden comes to fruition. Mr. Schaffenacker asked if the solar company sought the County out, or if the County sought this company out. Mr. Rohlfs stated that he was contacted by the solar company, because they had been in touch with Hanson Engineering. Mr. Ruben stated that the solar company was interested in county airports because of their long term ownership. Mr. Rohlfs stated that they like government property because it is more stable. Mr. Ruben discussed that Dennis Ramlow is under lease for 4 years to farm the County property and the County could not take the land away from him because of this. He discussed that the County could offer Mr. Ramlow half of what the County was going to get paid by the solar company for this project for the remaining years of his contract, in exchange for not farming the land and also not paying rent. Mr. Ruben discussed that the County would have the option the next time they bid it out to take this land out and the County would receive the whole payment from the solar company. Mr. Blankenship stated that the solar company had said there wouldn’t be any problems with reflectivity. Mr. Sanders stated that they also said they did not want any properties next to residential. Mr. Rohlfs stated that the back of the 18.3 acres that was discussed would be close to a corner of Mayfair. Mr. Blankenship and Mr. Rohlfs discussed that it would be 10 feet maximum in height. Mr. Farmer asked if they buried the cables. Mr. Rohlfs stated yes. He discussed that no concrete is poured, they drive steel pilings in the ground that holds the grid and the panels go on that. There was discussion that the ground would be returned back to its original state and checking the wording in the contract.

2) Farm Lease Revisions: Nothing to report.

3) Terminal Building Shop Rental: Nothing to report.

Airport Report: Mr. Rohlfs discussed Project AAA 4676 to widen and rehabilitate runway 3-21 and reconstruct runway turnarounds. He stated that the pre-design meeting was last Thursday. Mr. Rohlfs stated that the engineering firm selection process is in process again. He stated that the first phase has been sent in to IDOT and if approved, they will make an advertisement on their website.

HIF Report: Nothing to report.

Farm Report: Mr. Rohlfs reported that the well pump has failed again and it filled up with water, but it did not trip a breaker. He discussed this needing to be fixed.

Budget Review: None.

Communications: None.

Approve Bills: A motion was made by Mr. Blankenship, seconded by Mr. Schaffenacker, to approve the bills as presented for payment. Motion passed.

Public Comments: Mr. Fox reported that in the news today the Illinois Commerce Commission is requiring that all utilities submit new rates because of the reduction in the taxes by the federal tax bill and this will affect the County.

A motion was made by Mr. Schaffenacker, seconded by Mr. Sanders, to adjourn. Motion passed.

Meeting ended at 7:36 pm.