MINUTES OF THE
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING

Thursday, November 21, 2024

12:00 noon
CIAA Board Room/ 3650 Sen. J. Bennett Johnston Avenue/Lake Charles, LA 70615

ATTENDANCE

Commissioners Present:

Mrs. Tuwanna Guillory-August, Vice President
Mr. Charles K. Dalgleish, Secretary/Treasurer
Mr. Bill Hankins, Commissioner
Mrs. Denise Rau, Commissioner
Mr. Lee W. Boyer, Commissioner
Mr. Tad Martin, Commissioner

Commissioners Absent:

Mr. Nora Popillion, President

Others Present:

Mr. Kevin Melton, Executive Director
Mr. Robert Kleinschmidt, Legal Counsel
Mr. Gerald Theunissen, Consultant
Mrs. Andrea LaFleur, Director of Executive & Airport Affairs
Ms. Loretta Hanks, Director of Finance
Mr. John McMullen, Director of Facilities & Maintenance
Mr. Mitch O’Neal, Director of Operations
Mrs. Desiree K. Daigle, Admin. Specialist/Recording Secretary
Mr. Brett Downer, O’Carroll Group
Mr. Pete Pauley, The Pauley Corporation
Mr. Steve Shows, VSG Architects
Mr. Wejee Lechtenberg Jr., Lechtenberg Consulting, Inc.
Mrs. Stacy Dowden, City of Lake Charles
Chief Joshua Arnold, Centerra
Mr. Mark McElveen, T-Hangar Tenant
Mr. Tony Guillory, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury

CALL TO ORDER

Vice President Guillory-August called the meeting to order at 12:00 noon. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, roll was called and a quorum was established as indicated above.

PROPOSED AGENDA

Vice President Guillory-August requested additions, deletions, and amendments to the proposed agenda and Mr. Melton announced the same; i.e. ADD: Item #7(A) Discuss and take appropriate action to ratify Change Order #2 for the Site Utilities and Infrastructure Project. VICE PRESIDENT GUILLORY-AUGUST ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC. LET THE RECORD SHOW THERE IS NO INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC. MOTION WAS MADE BY MRS. RAU, SECONDED BY MR. HANKINS, AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO RATIFY CHANGE ORDER #2 FOR THE SITE UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS

Mr. Melton stated that the B-52 exercises are going well. Mr. Melton reported that the Airfield Lighting Replacement Project for the B-52’s is currently ongoing. Mr. Melton stated that the project consist of two different three-day periods in able to shorten the length of the runway to install the new flush mount light fixtures. Mr. Melton stated that the second three-day period will resume after the Thanksgiving Holiday and Chennault will be able to receive the B-52’s.

Mr. Melton gave the following Facilities Update:

  • 101 Projects Completed Since 2020 Totaling $77,000,000.00
  • 13 Projects for 2024-2025 Totaling $21,000,000.00

Mr. Melton stated that the Chennault team does a phenomenal amount of work. Mr. Melton stated that the support of the architects and engineers are critical in the effort of installing infrastructure and vertically growing Chennault.

Mr. Lechtenberg reported on the status on the 2024-2029 Site 1 Development Action Plan of the property formerly known as Mallard Cove Golf Course. Mr. Lechtenberg referred to the proposed draft rendering that shows hangars, buildings, and a roadway through the facility as an overall Master Plan. Mr. Lechtenberg stated that this was needed in order to develop the outside utilities and infrastructure to come up with a cost estimate. Mr. Lechtenberg stated that the rendering can be modified according to available funding.

Mrs. LaFleur reported on the 2025 – 2026 Capital Outlay Projects that were submitted prior to the November 1, 2024 deadline. Mrs. LaFleur stated that the following Capital Outlay requests were submitted in order of highest to lowest priority. Mrs. LaFleur stated that the following four projects total $59,000,000.00:

  • Single Bay Paint Hangar
  • Infrastructure to Site 1
  • Fabrication & Assembly of Shop Facility
  • Narrow Body/Large Cabin Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Hangar

Mrs. LaFleur thanked Mr. Steve Shows with VSG Architects for his assistance with the lengthy Capital Outlay process. Mrs. LaFleur reported that the Firewater Pumphouse #3 (FWPH) Project is currently in Capital Outlay. Mrs. LaFleur further stated that Chennault received $1,000,000.00 last year for this project and CIAA will continue to update the status of the project until it is complete as required by Capital Outlay.

Mr. Melton shared that Chennault is in final discussions with the City of Lake Charles regarding a Land Swap. Mr. Melton reported that all buildings and foundations on the property owned by the City will be removed with the exception of an equipment shed. Mr. Melton reported that the City Council and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have approved the Land Swap and the last step is the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA).

Mrs. Dowden stated that the current Public Works Facility was heavily damaged in the hurricane. Mrs. Dowden stated that this project is very important to them, they want to do it right, and be a good neighbor as well. Mrs. Dowden gave an overview of the building phases. Mrs. Dowden stated Phase 1 will be the Public Works Administration Building, Parking and Utility Work; Phase II will be the Vehicle Maintenance Building, Crew Building, and also a Smaller Storage Building. Mrs. Dowden stated that the City currently has approximately ten buildings and would go to four buildings total, one of which would be an unoccupied storage building. Mrs. Dowden stated that the investment for the entire property for the City is now approximately $29,000,000.00 which includes privacy fencing. Mrs. Dowden stated that Phase I should begin the 1st Quarter of 2025 and should be completed by the end of 2025 as long as the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) is approved in the near future; Phase II should be completed by the 3rd Quarter of 2026.

Mr. Melton stated that the Land Swap is a win-win for both parties. Mr. Melton stated that it clears out the area and will enable Chennault at some point in the future to purchase and install a new and advanced lighting system. Mr. McMullen stated the lighting system is currently located in between buildings.

Mr. Pauley reported on the appraisal results of five buildings, which include Air Cargo, Hangar B, T-Hangar, LA Millwork-Building #1 and Building #2. Mr. Pauley stated that the appraisal was based on comparables used for both sales and leases.

Mr. Theunissen informed everyone of the upcoming Congressional General Election being held on December 7, 2024 and gave a brief overview of the items listed on the ballot.

Mr. Downer gave a brief summary of the ongoing marketing and public relation efforts.

Mr. Melton reported on the ongoing efforts regarding Air Cargo. Mr. Melton stated that even though we have had good conversations with several companies, we have not had any particular company commit.

Mr. McElveen stated that he would like to get involved and support planning a general aviation fly-in to Chennault.

PERSONNEL & ADMINISTRATION POLICY MANUAL

Mr. Melton stated that this change is to clarify the months for the required training in Section VII Mandatory Training, Pages 36-37. VICE PRESIDENT GUILLORY-AUGUST ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC. LET THE RECORD SHOW THERE IS NO INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC. MOTION WAS MADE BY MR. HANKINS, SECONDED BY MRS. RAU, AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT THE ADDITIONS TO THE PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATION POLICY MANUAL PERTAINING TO THE ANNUAL TRAINING REQUIREMENT FOR AIRPORT STAFF.

MINUTE APPROVAL

VICE PRESIDENT GUILLORY-AUGUST ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC. LET THE RECORD SHOW THERE IS NO INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC. MOTION WAS MADE BY MRS. RAU, SECONDED BY MR. HANKINS AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 17, 2024 REGULAR MEETING. 

SITE UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT

Mr. Melton stated that Change Order #2 is for the Site Utilities and Infrastructure Project in the amount of $246,065.00. Mr. Shows stated that the change order was issued due to the contractor discovering unknown existing underground utilities and the reworking of the new utilities. Mr. Shows stated that contractor notified the engineering team that they could not install the two 24” diameter pipes as designed. Mr. Shows stated that this work is necessary in order to tie in Firewater Pumphouse #3 (FWPH) to the existing system and build the New Guard House at the Delivery Gate. VICE PRESIDENT GUILLORY-AUGUST ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC. LET THE RECORD SHOW THERE IS NO INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC. MOTION WAS MADE BY MR. HANKINS, SECONDED BY MR. BOYER AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO RATIFY CHANGE ORDER #2 FOR THE SITE UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT.

ADJOURNMENT

VICE PRESIDENT GUILLORY-AUGUST ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC. LET THE RECORD SHOW THERE IS NO INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC. MOTION WAS MADE BY MR. MARTIN, SECONDED BY MR. BOYER, AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. With no further business to come before the Commissioners, Vice President Guillory-August declared the meeting adjourned at 1:18 p.m.