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01-10-01 Airport MinutesCity of Kalispell Minutes from January 10, 2001 Meeting The meeting began at 4:00 p.m.. Present were: Chris Kukulski, Mike Baker, Craig Kerzman, P. J. Sorenson, and Kathy Kuhlin (staff), Gib Bissell, Keith Robinson, Jim Robischon, Art Thompson, and Tom weaver. Gib showed a April 8, 1929 letter that was found in an Arizona antique store regarding our City Airport. The Post Office will display the letter in their lobby. (See attached.) Mike Baker updated the board on the Contract with Peccia and Associates. The contracts were signed on Monday and sent back to Peccia. Their fee came to $126,OW. Gary Gates has looked at everything and has said that it all looks really good. Phil Porrini has completed the federal grant application and Mike will get it signed and in the mail tomorrow. This grant is a 90/ 10. we have $14,000. We are also applying for a State Aeronautics grant that could pay up to fifty percent to pay for some of the $14,000. It was noted that the green light on the rotating beacon needs to flash. Also, Tom noted that the runway was plowed but not the taxiways. Chris will send a memo to Dick Brady requesting him to look into these two items. (Please note the response to the memo is as follows: "The green light is flashing. The south end of the taxiway where we were having vehicle traffic, someone did plow a strip through, so I I Dick I finished it.") Barricades were put up on the west end of the airport but someone has already moved them over. Discussion was held, and it was suggested that Heckle or Burton may need to realign their road. The airport will make sure that a gate will be included, and they will be charged as a "through the fence operation". Glen has raised our insurance coverage and we will be notified as to our new premium. The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m. The next regular meeting will be Wednesday, February 14th, 2001 at 4:00 p.m. Kathy Kuhlin Recording Secretary JAN-- 1 6--0 1 03 : 38 PM P. 01 Y,2 Ceremony Takes Place After Arrival of Planes From Spokane Mayor Bruckhauser Makes Address of Welcome and Drops Wreath to Field From Air, Fred Buck Winner of Air Derby, Makes Flight in One Hour 42 Minutes. Kalispell's municipal airport was formally dedicated this morning when Mayor Bruckhauser dropped a monster wreath from a plane piloted by Fred Buck,local aviator. And this was not Buck's only honor, for he was the ginner of the air derby, making the flight from Spokane in one hour and 42 minutes. Bob Johnson of Missoula in an OX-5 Swallow was second and Nic Manner, in a Curtis Robin, third. Accompanying the flight from Spokane was Art Walters, flying a Ryan Broughams -a sister to Lindburgh's famous ship -having as his passengers Mayor Bruckhauser,W.11. Bally,and Miss Liui se M.i.Iler, formerly of Kalispell, but now with the Davenport Hotel in Spokane. Neil Klein was the mechanic of the plane, Apple Blossom, C-6556. Unfortunately, Mauler was unable to bring the Ford Tri-motored plane."Vest Wind," as it developed some mechanical difficulty at the last moment. This Caused much disappointment, as most of the spectators were very anxious to see it. In leaving Spokane this morning Mamer got away at 7:55, Spokane titre:Buck. at 8 o'clock and Bob Johnson at 7:59. They took a compass course to Kalispell, and flew at an altitude of about 6500 feet, Accompanying Mamer was Ellsworth C. French, city editor of the Spokane Chronicle, who acted as official starter, and has assisted in the dedication of 37 airports in various parts of the Northwest. Mr, French spoke very highly of the Kalispell port, and says it is admirably located between the hills which act as a wind break, It is splendidly marked, also, he said, the big circle guiding the airman the same as a round sign does a motorist. The air was fine this morning and the aviators say the Kalispell field was visible from a distance of 24 miles. Soon after the planes arrived, Secretary Treloar of the chamber of commerce mounted a truck and introduced to the crowd Mayor Bruckhauser, W.H. Bally, chaff nman of the Aviation committee of both the city council and the chamber of commerce, Miss Millcr,the only lady to make the flightPilot Walters, Mr. French, and Nick Mamer. Mamer he said, was very sorry that he could not fly the "West Wind"', but hopes to be able to bring it here tomorrow. Mayor Bruckhauser then made a brief address in which he said: "As Mayor of the City of Kalispell, I welcome you all upon this occasion, the dedication of the Kalispell Airpark, `Having spent the past two hours in the air making this wonderful trip from Spokane, I feel as if I were still in the air. " I have lived in Flathead County practically all my life, In the days when Kalispell was a grain field my mother built the first hotel, which I believe was the fourth building constructed in the city. There was at that time nothing in the way of improvements in the entire upper valley} except a few small store buildings in the old .town of Demersville, a boat landing. At that time we had, as many old -tuners will remember, ox and horse- drawn vehicles and bicycles for transportation. .TAN- - 1 6-0 1 03 :39 PM P . 02 ``It gets one thinking of the great progress that has been made in these past fcrw year's. I have had the pleasure of seeing all of the improvements made in Kalispell, Whitefish, Poison, Big fork and all the other surrounding towns during this period. Today our valley is covered with automobiles, and the time is not far distant when the air will be filled with buz ing planes as it is today. ``I want to take this occasion to thank Nick burner and all the other pilots and visitors for the interest they have taken in the dedication of this field.$' Mayor Bruckhauser then left the platform and entered the plane from which he dropped the wreath dedicating the field. The only unfortunate incident to mar the occasion was a mishap to Harold Groves, parachute jumper, who struck the cross arm of a telephone pole in landing, He was knocked out for the time being, but it is not believed his injuries will prove serious. The accident was not witnessed by anyone on the field as he landed near the bridge over the � dry coulee, south east of town, and very few persons knew that he made the jump at all.He went up in a plane piloted by Clarence Murray of Vancouver, Washington. It is probabic that in attempting to land on the field he was carried over by a strong wind which sprang up. All the roads surrounding the airfield were black with Gars, many were on the field, and still others took advantage of elevations of ground from which they could obtain a better view. At times the planes raised clouds of dust, but the spectators took it good naturedly, and seemed to look on it as part of the game. The dedication of Kalispell's airpon proved successful in every way, and is looked upon as marking an important step i n the city's progress.