During the August board meeting, the board approved the low temporary note bid for $10,975,000 in taxable general obligation temporary notes. The Airport Authority's financial advisors, George K. Baum & Company reviewed the bids received and recommended the bid submitted by Bank of America. Proceeds from the sale of the temporary notes will pay for capital improvements at the Salina Municipal Airport and Salina Airport Industrial Center including a 69,000 square-foot hangar and office complex.
The Salina Airport Authority Board of Directors also discussed the Aa3 Rating that the Salina Airport Authority received from Moody's Investor Service. The strong Moody's rating affirms that the SLN Aviation Service Center is positioned for future growth. The growth of the SLN Aviation Service Center will be even more apparent when the modern 69,000 square-foot hangar and office complex is available for occupancy in June 2008.
The Board of Directors accepted the bid for site preparation of Hangar 600 from APAC Shears - Salina Division. The site preparation bid was for $602,848.20 and will include grading and preparation of the building pad, drainage improvements, utility liner, fencing, curb and gutter, parking lot construction, existing pavement removal and aircraft parking apron construction.
Due to the expected growth of the SLN Aviation Service Center, the Airport Authority Board of Directors was able to hold the Airport Authority's property tax levy at 2.877mills, the same as the previous year.
Airport activity continues to trend upward with a total of 6,232 operations during July 2007. This is a 22.8% increase over the July 2006 total of 5,074. The increase is spread out in the categories of GA Itinerant, Civil Local and Military Local.
The new Mesa/Air Midwest flight schedule continues to show positive results. If the airline can continue to board 220 passengers per month for the remainder of the year, total calendar enplanements will reach the 3,000 level. Mesa/Air Midwest will consider a Salina proposal for the addition of a third, mid-day flight. There may be an opportunity to add the third flight in October 2007.
The monthly fuel flowage for July 2007 was a total of 292,410 gallons, a 9.9% drop as compared to July 2006. July is the first month in 2007 not to exceed 300,000 gallons. Year-to-date fuel flowage is 10.6% over the firs seven months of 2006.
