5-13-26 Airport Packet

AIRPORT COMMISSION Menomonie City Hall 800 Wilson Avenue 1st Floor, City Council Chambers 6:00pm Wednesday – May 13, 2026 Regular Meeting 1. Roll Call 2. Public Comments (agenda items only). 3. Minutes from March 18, 2026 Airport Commission Meeting – discussion and possible action. 4. Special Event Request for Runway Speed Runs on Date(s) To Be Determined – discussion and possible action. 5. Discuss Airport Manager’s Report – discussion only (no action). 6. Set Next Meeting Date. 7. Adjourn. “PUBLIC ACCESS” Notice is hereby given that members of the Common Council may be present at the foregoing meeting to gather information about a subject over which they have decision-making responsibility. This constitutes a meeting of the Common Council pursuant to State ex rel. Badke v. Greendale Village Board, 173 Wis.2d 553, 494 N.W.2d 408 (1993) and must be noticed as such, although the Common Council will not take any formal action at this meeting. NOTE: Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate individuals with disabilities. For additional information or to request the service, contact the City Clerk or the City Administrator at 232-2221. PLEASE CONTACT PAM at (232-2221 x1000) or pwildner@menomonie-wi.gov IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING. MEMORANDUM David Schofield, Director of Public Works dschofield@menomonie-wi.gov 715-232-2221 Ext.1020 1 TO: Chairman Johnson & Airport Commission FROM: David Schofield, Director of Public Works SUBJECT: Staff Memo DATE: May 13, 2026 Airport Commission Meeting Agenda Item #3 – Minutes The draft minutes from the March 18, 2026 Airport Commission Meeting are enclosed. If the Commission concurs, the appropriate motion would be Approve the March 18, 2026 Minutes (simple majority). Agenda Item #4 – Runway Speed Runs Airport Manager Gibson brought to my attention a request to hold runway speed runs on unspecified dates. City Staff recommends denying this request at this time. The Airport Commission could consider specific requests in the future as long as they are for specific dates and times, include a plan for closure of the airfield, and the organizer provides an insurance certificate. If the Commission concurs, the appropriate motion would be Deny the Special Event Request for Runway Speed Runs on Unspecified Dates (simple majority). Menomonie Airport Commission Meeting Minutes March 18, 2026 The Menomonie Airport Commission was called to order by Chairman Dr. Dan Johnson at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Commission Members present included: Dr. Dan Johnson, Earl Wildenberg, Steven Lee, Randy Sommerfeld and Kerry McCauley. Others in attendance included: David Schofield, Brock Meriwether, Darrel Gibson, Corbin Gibson, Brady Fasbender, Jolene Walker, Blair Ransom (virtual), Zach Shaha (virtual), and Casey Delanghe (virtual). Johnson asked for public comments. No comments were received. Johnson asked if there were any corrections to the minutes contained in the packet. No objections were received. Schofield introduced Brock Meriwether as the new Community Services Superintendent. No action was taken. Schofield presented Vertical Bridge’s revised cell tower plans. Johnson asked if the tower had obstruction lighting. Ransom said it did not and was not required to by FAA regulations. Sommerfeld moved to direct city staff to provide a Letter of No Objection to Dunn County Planning and Zoning Department for the 133-foot tall cell tower on the south side of 730th Avenue in the Northeast Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of Section 5, Township 28 North, Range 12 West, contingent upon the addition of obstruction lighting. Seconded by McCauley. Motion carried unanimously. Schofield presented the proposed lease with R&R Memorial, LLC for Parcel N. Schofield indicated that Ross Nelson’s estate has proposed to sell the hangar thereupon to Zach Shaha and Casey Delanghe, who have formed R&R Memorial, LLC. Schofield indicated that approval of the lease should be contingent upon termination of Ross Nelson’s lease. Wildenberg moved to approve the Hangar Area Lease with R&R Memorial, LLC for Parcel N, as presented, contingent upon termination of the Hangar Area Lease with Ross Nelson for Parcel N, dated January 17, 2020. Seconded by Lee. Motion carried unanimously. Wildenberg moved to approve the termination of the Hangar Area Lease with Ross Nelson for Parcel N, dated January 17, 2020. Seconded by McCauley. Motion carried unanimously. Gibson gave the Airport Managers Report. No action taken. Johnson noted that he would be out of town for a portion of April. Schofield indicated that he was not aware of any impending agenda items. Schofield suggested the next meeting be tentatively set for May 13, 2026. No objections were received. Lee moved to convene in closed session under Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(e) for the purpose of deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session for Gibson Aviation Services, LLC Performance Review. Seconded by Wildenberg. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. All participants except the Commission, Schofield, Darrel Gibson and Corbin Gibson left the room. Wildenberg moved to reconvene in open session under Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(2). Seconded by McCauley. Motion carried unanimously. No action was taken regarding discussions that occurred in closed session. McCauley moved to adjourn. Seconded by Wildenberg. Motion carried unanimously. Submitted by: David Schofield, Recording Secretary. David Schofield <dschofield@menomonie-wi.gov> Airport Event Request darrel gibsonaviation.com <darrel@gibsonaviation.com> Thu, May 7, 2026 at 8:50 AM To: David Schofield <dschofield@menomonie-wi.gov> Cc: Daniel Johnson <drdan@wwt.net> Good Morning David, Yesterday, I had an airport member inquire about bringing some friends to drive cars on the runway on a Sunday morning for leisure. No specific dates or times were provided. I wanted to get your thoughts on this request, particularly from a safety and operational standpoint. My primary concern would be maintaining the safety of the airport environment and ensuring there is no potential conflict with aircraft operations. While there appeared to be some reluctance regarding closing the runway on behalf of the airport member, I would strongly recommend that, at a minimum, the runway be officially closed and proper procedures followed if an event such as this were to be considered. I have attached a letter I received last year regarding similar events for your reference. Kind Regards, Darrel Darrel R. Gibson, IA/A&P Gibson Aviation Services, LLC 1400 Indianhead Drive East Menomonie, WI 54751 715-220-6549 Mobile 715-231-1836 Office https://gibsonaviation.com/ darrel@gibsonaviation.com scan0005.pdf 132K 5/8/26, 9:27 AM Menomonie-wi.gov Mail - Airport Event Request https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=c1b7e0cdb5&view=pt&search=all&permmsgid=msg-f:1864537866081840261&simpl=msg-f:1864537866081840261 1/1