MINUTES OF THE
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING

Thursday, July 17, 2025

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

ATTENDANCE

Commissioners Present:

Mr. Nora Popillion, President
Mrs. Tuwanna Guillory-August, Vice President
Mr. Bill Hankins, Commissioner
Mr. Kenneth B. Martin, Commissioner
Mr. Lee W. Boyer, Commissioner

Commissioners Absent:

Mr. Charles K. Dalgleish, Secretary/Treasurer
Mrs. Denise Rau, Commissioner

Others Present:

Mr. Kevin Melton, Executive Director
Mr. Robert Kleinschmidt, Legal Counsel
Ms. 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. Kyle Jones, Rostan Solutions
Mr. Russell Stutes, Jr., Stutes & Lavergne, LLC
Chief Joshua Arnold, Centerra
Mr. Matthew Bruce, Northrop Grumman
Mr. Mark McElveen, T- Hangar Tenant

CALL TO ORDER

President Popillion 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

President Popillion, requested additions, deletions, and amendments to the proposed agenda and Mr. Melton announced the same; i.e. DELETE: Item # 9 Discuss and take appropriate action to authorize the Executive Director to advertise for a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Security Services for Chennault International Airport Authority Properties. PRESIDENT POPILLION 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 APPROVE THE PROPOSED AGENDA AS AMENDED.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/CORRESPONDENCE

Mr. Melton stated that he and Chennault representatives will be attending the Louisiana Municipal Association Conference and Reception, 2025 State of Southwest Louisiana

Breakfast, and the LegisGator Golf Tournament and Luncheon.

Mr. Melton shared the Louisiana in Paris Initiative – June 2025 document from Louisiana Economic Development (LED). Mr. Melton stated that it is a post International Paris Air Show overview and perspective of the impact of the air show. Mr. Melton stated that he was thankful for Mr. Walker, President and CEO of the Chamber Southwest Louisiana Alliance Foundation for setting up multiple meetings beforehand.

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

Mr. Jones stated that we are already starting to see the cascading effects from Mr. Melton’s meeting with Governor Landry at the International Paris Air Show. Mr. Jones briefed the board on the most recent meeting with Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), Region 6 and Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) regarding funding allocations, timelines, milestones, scope alignments, etc.

CAPITAL OUTLAY

Mr. Melton stated that the Resolution authorizes the Executive Director to prepare and submit applications for State Capital Outlay projects, to execute Cooperative Endeavor Agreements for the Capital Outlay projects as well as requests for reimbursements, certifying compliance with items listed on the Request for Facility Planning and Control Concurrence in Construction Contract Award form and other documents pertaining to a project. PRESIDENT POPILLION 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. BOYER, SECONDED BY MR. MARTIN, AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT A CAPITAL OUTLAY BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 TO THE STATE DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION AND TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE CHENNAULT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY IN ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE CAPITAL OUTLAY PROJECTS.

LEASE – BECHTEL ENERGY/LOUISIANA LNG

Mr. Melton stated that Bechtel will be leasing approximately 9.56 acres to store materials required to build a LNG plant. Mr. Melton stated that the initial term will be a one (1) year with a five (5) year option to renew. Mrs. LaFleur stated that they have also requested the first right of refusal for the properties that Jeff Davis Electric Cooperative, EP Breaux Utility Service, LLC, and R.O.W.C., L.L.C. d/b/a Diamond D Industries lease when those leases expire. PRESIDENT POPILLION 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. HANKINS, AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND TO SIGN A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH BECHTEL ENERGY/LOUISIANA LNG.

LEASE – AMENDMENT #2 – LANDLOCKED AVIATION SERVICES

Mr. Melton stated that the amendment is to incorporate the new Wastewater Treatment Plant (Building 3005) and to remove the old facility that was severely damaged by Hurricane Laura.

PRESIDENT POPILLION 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. HANKINS, AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND TO SIGN AMENDMENT #2 TO THE LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHENNAULT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND LANDLOCKED AVIATION SERVICES.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

PRESIDENT POPILLION 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. GUILLORY-AUGUST, AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING LITIGATION. The commissioners began the Executive Session at 12:31 p.m.

REGULAR SESSION

PRESIDENT POPILLION 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. MARTIN, AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO RECONVENE THE REGULAR SESSION. The Regular Session was reconvened at 12:46 p.m. with no action taken during the Executive Session.

MINUTE APPROVAL

PRESIDENT POPILLION 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. MARTIN AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 26, 2025 REGULAR MEETING.

ADJOURNMENT

PRESIDENT POPILLION 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. BOYER, SECONDED BY MRS. GUILLORY-AUGUST AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. With no further business to come before the Commissioners, President Popillion declared the meeting adjourned at 12:49 p.m.