HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil.Minutes.01-17-2008.Special Proceedings of the City Council, City of Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Special Session Session January 17, 2008 GG-41
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SPECIAL SESSION—JANUARY 17,2008
The Cape Girardeau City Council convened in special session on Thursday, January 17, 2008, at
5:00 p.m., with Mayor Jay B. Knudtson presiding and Council Members Charlie Herbst, Matt
Hopkins,Marcia Ritter,Loretta Schneider,Debra Tracy and John Voss present.
City Manager, Doug Leslie reports that over a period of three weeks the U.S. Department of
Transportation has taken proposals for Essential Air Service at the Cape Girardeau Regional
Airport, as well as airports in Jackson, Tennessee, and Owensboro, Kentucky. The City Airport
Advisory Board has reviewed the proposals submitted,and they are at this meeting to present their
recommendation for Essential Air Service.
Airport Manager Bruce Loy explained that on December 19, 2007, Big Sky announced it would
no longer be providing Essential Air Service to Cape Girardeau. The Department of
Transportation prepared an emergency Request for Proposal. The two carriers that submitted a
proposal are Great Lakes Aviation and Air Choice One. Mr. Loy gave a brief history of the two
airlines. Air Choice One is proposing service to St. Louis, Missouri or Cincinnati, Ohio and Great
Lakes Aviation is proposing service to St. Louis, Cincinnati or Kansas City. At the present time,
neither airline has a code share agreement with any major airline due to the quick deadline for the
proposal. Once an airline is selected, it will work to develop a code share agreement with a major
airline. Upon questioning by Council members, Mr. Loy reviewed security issues, reservation
issues and passenger projections of both airlines. Upon questioning by Mr. Voss, Mr. Loy stated
he would be concerned about starting service if the airline selected had only one aircraft or one
flight each day.
Mayor Knudtson thanked the Airport Board for their work on this. He asked whether there was
any dissension on board, or if the decision wasunanimous?
Mr. William Gerry Keene, Chairman of the Airport Board, stated that the Board is unanimous in
recommending that Great Lakes Aviation be recommended to the Department of Transportation
for the Essential Air Service in Cape Girardeau for service to St. Louis.
Mayor Knudtson explained that he had previously requested financial information on Great Lakes,
and asked if staff was satisfied that the company was solvent and in good financial standing.
Finance Director John Richbourg stated that Great Lakes has had a profit for the last several years,
and he is comfortable with this recommendation.
BILL NO. 08-23 was presented as follows:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CAPE GIRARDEAU,
MISSOURI, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR CARRIER
SELECTION PERTAINING TO ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE AT THE CAPE GIRARDEAU
REGIONAL AIRPORT
Mr. Hopkins made a motion, seconded by Mr. Voss to, approve the reading of BILL NO. 08-23
and adopt the resolution. The motion was approved upon the following vote: Ayes, Herbst,
Hopkins, Knudtson, Ritter, Schneider, Tracy and Voss. Nays, none. BILL NO. 08-23 is
RESOLUTION NO. 2333.
Proceedings of the City Council, City of Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Special Session Session January 17, 2008 GG-42
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There being no further business, the City Council adjourned upon Mr. Hopkins' motion, Mr.
Herbst's second, and the following vote: Ayes, Herbst, Hopkins, Knudtson, Ritter, Schneider,
Tracy and Voss. Nays, none.
(Jay Bim:-CCnudtson, Mayor
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Gayle L. onrad, City Clerk