 Welcome to Sheboygan County government working for you. My name is Adam Payne, Sheboygan County Administrator and co-host of this program with Chairman Mike Banderstein. And as you know, Sheboygan County has 22 departments. There's a lot going on in one of the areas that's really taken flight of late is the work going on at the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport. Today we're very pleased to have Chuck Mayer with us, the manager of the airport. Chuck, welcome. Thank you very much for having me. Good to have you here again. And please begin by sharing a little bit about yourself and when you started at the county airport. Well, I am very honored to have the privilege of managing the Sheboygan County airport now for the past 21 years. And it's really been quite an experience and very fulfilling as far as a department had, being able to be part of, you know, a county-owned facility that has shown such promise and such growth over that time. I'm sure some of our viewers may be perhaps surprised even here the county has an airport and it's a critical piece to our economic development and the quality of life in Sheboygan County. How long has the county operated a county airport? Okay, the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport basically got its start as the result of a county board referendum in 1956. As far as, you know, the debate whether the county or city should own an airport and the referendum passed unanimously pretty much in favor of the county being responsible for an airport and building an airport. 1960 is basically when the airport construction was completed and the airport was officially dedicated in July of 1962. And for the past 21 years you've been at the helm? Yes, I'm very pleased to report and, you know, we've done some, I think, very, you know, good things out there at the airport. Prior to my 21 years managing the airport, the previous airport manager was Harry Chaplin. Chaplin Aviation served as the airport's fixed space operator and also served as a part-time airport manager. So please set the stage for our viewers a little bit. How large is our county airport and what are your mission and primary responsibilities? Since the airport was built back in 1958, 1960, basically we've probably doubled the acreage of county-owned property out there. Now we are just a little over, I think, 1040 acres that totally encompass the airport property with navigation easements and everything like that. The mission of the county airport department basically is, you know, we're charged with the responsibility of maintaining a safe transportation facility for air carriers, you know, on folks to use the airport, you know, to safely get to and from, you know, their destinations and whatnot. In addition to, you know, providing operations, operational budget, I should say, long-range planning, infrastructure improvements, and basically just trying to stay ahead of the power curve and offer a facility that, you know, that will accept, you know, development coming at it in the future. Now how many staff? I know a lot of responsibility over, what did you say, 1,000? 1,040 acres and counting. 1,040 acres and counting. There's been a lot of growth and development that we'll get into shortly, but how many staff do you have to help you manage all of that? That facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and I have, the airport department basically is made up of three full-time employees. Myself is a full-time airport manager, and I have two very, very capable airport maintenance technicians that, you know, all three of us are on call, basically, you know, 24-7 especially in the winter, you know, to keep the runways plowed and things like that. The airport maintenance techs are very talented and everything from working on diesel equipment, plow trucks, things like that, to airside visual aids, navigational aids that are on the field. I've got a real good department. So our viewers may be thinking three, four people handling this airport, and, you know, of course, the very important job of maintaining the runway and the snow removal in the winter, 24-7, as you said. But of course, it doesn't all fall in the lap of your staff and yourself. You have a fixed-base operator out there. In fact, now there's two of them. Are there not? That's right. As of July of last year, basically the airport existed, you know, for 40-some years with one fixed-base operator. It was Chaplin Aviation, which sold business to Magnus Aviation, and now it's currently Western Shore Aviation. July of last year, second fixed-base operator came onto the field, and that's Burroughs Aviation, and we're very excited to have another commercial operator on the field. With that fixed-base operation also came a restaurant, which is known as the Final Approach, just a, you know, wonderful atmosphere inside that restaurant for, you know, folks who haven't been out there yet. It'd be just, you know, worth your while to come out, you know, have lunch, sit and watch the airplanes take off and land. And the operator, in addition to the newest addition that added the restaurant, which is just a beautiful facility, what's the primary role of these fixed-based operators? The fixed-base operator really provides a full service to the people that own an airplane, you know, that are chartering an airplane. Once they fly into the airport, if they need ground transportation, the fixed-base operator can arrange that. The fixed-base operator also takes care of airport, I should say, aircraft maintenance. They provide flight instruction. They provide air charter operations, just a full scope of services. Very good. Very good. And how do you compare, how does Sheboygan County compare to other airports similar to us across the state? How do we rank? How busy are we? Well, I'm really, really proud of this, Adam, is that over the years our numbers have really grown as far as activity at this airport. Flight operations per year, the number of based aircraft that operate out of this facility rank us somewhere in the top 10 airports in the United States. And seeing that, you know, we have about 103 public airports in the state of Wisconsin. And Sheboygan County Airport is up within that top 10. That's something that we can really be proud of. Very good. Very good. And finally, before I turn it over to Chairman Van der Stee, you have a number of very important tenants, and that's grown as well at the airport. Please give our viewers a flavor for what types of tenants do you have out at the airport and who's predominantly utilizing the airport? Well, just backing up a little bit of history there. When the airport was built, it was just built under the category of general aviation. Since that time, we've kind of raised the bar, so to speak, just by the use of the airport and the type of industrial tenants now that base at our facility. The FAA has changed the airport ranking to a transport slash corporate category, which again allows us for probably a little better leverage for state and federal funding and the length of runways and just airside infrastructure and that above and beyond, you know, it's the next level of airport facility short of an air carrier. And our backbone basically is made up of industrial corporate flight departments. I think right now we're at about 14 of these corporate flight departments that are based at Sheboydon County Memorial Airport. Some of our local industries have chose to establish their own flight departments rather than rely on commercial airlines. That way they can move their people when they want, where they want, you know. Our industrial tenants, just to name a few, we've got the Kohler Company, Richardson Engineering Industries, excuse me, Windway Capital Corp, Aerometric Engineering, Orion Energies, let's see, Bemis Manufacturing, Great Lakes Aerial Survey and, you know, sometimes small or big businesses that have located at Sheboydon, their operations out of. In addition to all those fundamental tendons, number of private sector or individual leases. Yeah, that's correct. We've got about, again, as I mentioned before, the 14 big capital corporate flight departments based there, 38 individual privately owned hangers. A lot of these are just, you know, the sport aviation people. Some are small businesses that are just, you know, getting into a single airplane flight department growing. We're hoping in years that, you know, we'll see them, you know, you know, with a major type of flight department. Three commercial operators at the airport, you know, two fixed space operators and then also another commercial operator that provides for T-hanger rentals for the aircraft that are based at Sheboydon. Excellent. Thank you, Chuck. Chuck, in addition to your maintenance responsibilities, your department's also taking an active role in the capital planning process. Can you tell us a little bit about the process that you're actively involved in right now for capital projects? Capital projects really take up an awful lot of my time. And I think that's the key to the success of our airport is being ahead of the power curve so that we always have ample infrastructure in place that will allow people when they come to Sheboydon and ask to build at the airport, whether it is commercial development and industrial development or a private hangar, that we do have lots available for them, you know, to build when they care to build. The capital planning basically, at least during my term at the airport, kind of goes back to about 1995 when we finished the second update on the airport master plan. And from that update, which was accompanied by environmental assessment studies, feasibility studies, and, you know, just a whole gamut of different studies that were necessary according to the FAA. From there, you know, we've just very meticulously followed through on, you know, that master plan recommendation as far as infrastructure development. And right now, current project that is probably one of the biggest in the history of Sheboydon County Airport is the extension of the primary runway, it's runway 321. It's a concrete runway that started out 5,000 feet in length and was increased to 5,400. Now we are taking that runway to 6,800 feet overall length. The final phase of that project is starting this summer with the paving and everything being completed next year. And that is going to be about a nine, at least $9 million capital improvement project. That's a big one. Could you tell us who provides input and guidance to your department? I answer to, or the airport department answers to the county board's transportation committee. And in addition to that committee, we also have a airport advisory committee. So between the two, we have a very good balance as far as sounding board and direction on what, you know, should happen at the airport policies, procedures, things like that. Now, Chuck, I know you're gearing up for this extension of the runway, but what current projects are you working on right now that are you're implementing this year? In addition to the runway extension project, we have a number of planning, plan and spec items that are in the works now with the airport consulting engineer. And that's for development of the north central quadrant of the airport to provide more corporate and industrial hangar lots. In addition to the potential of having Morgan aircraft manufacturing facility build on up in that north central quadrant. And we're looking at possible groundbreaking with Morgan either late this year or early next year. That sounds like you're keeping busy. As you look past the next two years, what kind of other things are on the horizon for the airport? Okay. Once I can get through these infrastructure expansion projects, then I go back and we need to focus on rebuilding a lot of the infrastructure at the airport, namely the apron areas, the public aprons out on the flight line. I've got taxiways that are pretty well past their service life expectancy. Our secondary runway, which is runway 1331 asphalt runway, that needs to be strengthened again because of the heavier type aircraft now that are using the Sheboyne County airport. So that that's the primary focus, you know, once once we're through the expansions. Now, Chuck, you talked about on a nine million dollar runway extension. That's a big number for a lot of us to think about. Who actually pays for this projects and how do you get these funded? Okay. For the past 21 years, the airport department has always had either one, two, or three projects in the county five year capital plan. And I think the reason we've been so successful in, you know, having the capital projects in that plan over the years is the fact that the funding that we can secure from the federal government, the FAA particularly, we're competing for funding from a federal, the federal aviation trust fund. And that fund is established and grows from the taxation, which comes from airline tickets, fuel sales, everything aviation related. That money is taxation is pretty well captured, put into the aviation trust fund. And then there are 4,000 airports across the United States that compete for that money. And I'm very proud to report that Sheboygan County has been very successful over the past 21 years in getting its fair share of the federal funds for airport improvements. The funding formula that we're presently working under as far as the cost sharing on, as an example of runway 321 extension at $9 million plus is that 95% of the funds are paid from the federal aviation trust, the cost I should say, 2.5% of the cost is paid by the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics and the remaining 2.5% would come from Sheboygan County taxpayers. So 2.5% of a $9 million project is, we can't put together a better package than that. That's a great leveraging of our money, Chuck. Thanks for all the work you do to accomplish that. The other thing I'd like to focus on a little bit before I turn it back over to Adam is what economic benefits does this really mean for Sheboygan County having an airport like this in our county? In order to garner those type of funds from the federal government, they pretty well hold us to the fire pretty much so to speak as far as providing justification, excuse me, that the airport is an economic viable source within the community. And starting back in, I think it was 1993, and then again, excuse me, 95. 2000, 2003, and now in 2008 again, we've commissioned an economic impact studies that show us what the return of having an airport is for our community. The $20 million plus, I believe, was a typical number that show them as far as revenues generated at the airport that roll back into Sheboygan County. That's fantastic. Adam? 9-11, of course, changed the world in a lot of ways, particularly the United States and our security concern at airports. And you have of course been in a lead role with making sure that the Sheboygan County airport has security in place. What steps have been taken over the last, you know, five, ten years to improve the security and what in particular has resulted since 9-11? Well, I think it was back in about 1992, the airport finally was able to put together funding necessary to build a fence around the facility. That fence started out, I think, about five miles overall length. With that, you know, we installed gates that were basically just kind of automatic. You drive your car up to it and the gate would open automatically and you, you know, you drive onto the airside and then you could get out the same way. 9-11 happened and things changed drastically at the airport with the help of the some transportation funding and what not. We were able to put in, transition these gates to more secured access by using key fobs. So all of our airport tenants or any vendors need to have a key fob in order to access gates, you know, that will allow them in and out of the airport. Along with that, we were able to get some federal funding to install security cameras at strategic locations of the airport so we can monitor, you know, who comes and goes, not only on the airside of the fence but also on the land side of the security fence. Now I've been here since 99 and I can recall us improving the fence and I don't know if we heightened it or put bob wire around the top but that happened after I arrived and I've recognized that with all the improvements we've made, they certainly are warranted and I think give folks a better sense of comfort when they're using the airport. But as you travel throughout the state, you'll notice from time to time that, you know, the airports, I don't know if it's the Wapaka airport I'm always going by on the way to Stevens Point when I visit my family or what but some of the airports don't have any fencing or they just have a very short little fence on one portion of the airport. What triggers, you know, the further security such as we have or was it just being just being more proactive here than some communities have been? It's both I would say definitely being proactive again to ensure the security for, you know, these industrial tenants that we have based at the airport. Homeland security grants again was something that was out there and it was really ashamed to pass up, you know, some of these cost-sharing, the transition of the gates to the key fob access, the security camera system, look that was 100% paid by Homeland Security Grant. You know, when I saw the opportunity there it was like it was kind of a no-brainer, you know, it's something that we needed to do to just improve the infrastructure that we already, you know, were putting in place. The barbed wire improvement made on the fence again was Homeland Security Grant and that was done after 9-11. Gotcha, gotcha. Well, that's a real credit as Chairman Vandersen said to you and your department but you in particular going after these grants because though the money may be there if you don't take the time and the initiative to go after them you're not going to see them come back home so my compliments. Thank you. What other things have happened from a standpoint of security? For example, when we have our PGA or some major golf event I know from time to time you'll have an airport tower, a portable tower brought in. What other things occasionally happen out there? Right, the big events at the airport starting back in 2004 with the PGA and then we had another golfing event the other year gearing up for another huge one in 2010. PGA is coming back once again. Again, going back looking for grants and funds to, you know, support the added expenses that occur at the airport because of the world-class golf courses that we have in Sheboygan County now. Basically, Sheboygan County airport is the airport of destination for folks wanting to use those facilities. That really adds quite the workload to the airport as far as aircraft movement in and out and we had requested funding assistance from the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics and the FAA as far as a temporary air traffic control tower. So that was here twice already and we're already programming to get that back in 2010, you know, to help us make that airport as safe and environment as possible and to very effectively move, you know, these corporate jets in and out of the airport as safely as can be. Very good, very good. You have another major event out there that I wanted to take the last couple of minutes to talk about and that's the Wings and Wheels event that you and many other affiliations help provide on Father's Day out there and having personally enjoyed it. It's something special. You get a wonderful turnout. What's going on this year with Wings and Wheels? Well, again, I'm very happy to report that this will be the 18th annual Heaven Misty Year Wings and Wheels on Father's Day, June 15th, Sunday. Basically the same players as far as sponsors, EAA Chapter 766, we've got the Plymouth Snow Rangers, a lot of Sheboygan Civic Groups, the Kiwanis and whatnot will be there to provide food and beverage. Besides that, Adam, I'd also just like to mention that we do have a few other things happening at the airport. July 14th, 15th and 16th, the Collins Foundation out of the southern part of the United States has initiated what's called a Wings of Freedom Tour and they will be bringing up some World War II aircraft, B-17, B-24, B-25 and a P-51 Mustang that will be statically displayed on the ramp over at the Burroughs Aviation Facility. So the aircraft will be there. It's kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some folks to come out and see that. Usually you only see these type of aircraft at the National Convention of the EAA at Oshkosh where you can come to Sheboygan and hopefully we'll have some crowds out there but nothing like what you experience at Oshkosh. To see these World War II aircraft, rides will be available for those wanting to pay for a ride on one of those machines. So that's coming up and then also on July 23rd through the 28th, another group of World War II, or I should say this, these aircraft would be just after World War II. It's the Military Trainers, a T-28 group. We'll have about 30 of those aircraft at Sheboygan County Airport for a whole week and they chose Sheboygan County Airport this year to hold their Safety and Training Clinic. So during that period of time you'll see these formations of T-28s flying all over Sheboygan County and basically when they're done with their one week training seminar and whatnot at Sheboygan Airport, the entire squadron so to speak will then relocate to Oshkosh for the the week-long EAA convention and you've probably seen that televised where you know there's massive formation of aircraft. It's usually the T-28s so we'll have them at Sheboygan. Outstanding. Chuck, thank you so much for joining us today. An excellent overview. We filled our time quickly and if you have any questions or you want to see something pretty cool, get out to your Sheboygan County Memorial Airport. If you haven't been out there of late, I think you'll be really surprised to see the growth and infrastructure improvements that have happened over the years. A nice restaurant out there and Chuck certainly is always willing to take questions or give folks a sense of what's happening. So thank you, Chuck, for joining us. Thank you. Thank you for the great work you and your team do out there. Thank you. Until next time, on behalf of the Sheboygan County Board, Chairman van der Steen and myself, thank you for joining us.