Casey, filling in for airport manager Bob Lowe, gave the board an operations update that covered short-term pavement preservation, new asset tracking software, a major equipment repair and a drainage concern linked to a neighboring parcel.

Casey said the authority acquired a crack-seal machine "from the county, state and the FAA" to use for interim pavement maintenance for Taxiway Bravo while a scheduled preservation project is not scheduled until next summer. The goal is to fill cracks and extend pavement life until the full pavement preservation work can proceed.

To improve tracking of inspections and work orders after a Part 139 inspection recommendation, staff purchased an airport management system called Aerosimple to replace spreadsheet-based tracking. "We purchased this software in order to better run our Part 139 operations," Casey said.

Casey also reported that the airport snowblower suffered an internal gearbox failure last winter. Staff chose to have a new gear machined rather than cannibalize a 40-year-old unit; the replacement is being made in Texas and is expected back before this winter.

Finally, Casey said a property owner east of the airport (across the railroad) plans to sell and is working with the railroad to clear a culvert that runs under the tracks from the neighboring parcel onto airport property. Once cleared, Casey said the airport expects greater water flow into its canals and ditches. "We're expecting a lot more water flow into the canals and ditches at the airport," Casey said, and staff proposed renting heavy equipment to clear the ditches and remove reeds and cattails that attract wildlife.

Board members questioned whether the irrigation/canal company, rather than the airport, carries maintenance responsibility for the channel; Casey said he would follow up with Bob Lowe and the canal company to clarify responsibilities. No financial commitment was recorded at the meeting.