Big Bear Airport Board of Directors Special Board Meeting Today at 2:30pm

Big Bear City, CA, September 24, 2010, 12:30pm – The Big Bear Airport Board of Directors will conduct a special board meeting today at 2:30pm at the Big Bear City Airport at 501 W. Valley Blvd.  New business items on the agenda include discussion and direction on amending the Director’s Policy Manual, personnel policies and procedures and travel expenses for the Airport Manager.  Old business agenda items include discussion and direction of hanger, storage, tiedown and auto parking lease agreements.

Youth Aviation Adventure at Big Bear City Airport Draws Youth Aviation Enthusiasts

Big Bear City, CA, August 23, 2010, 3:00pm – On Saturday, August 21, 2010, at the Big Bear City Airport, 84 children between the ages of 12 to 18 from Southern California communities, including Big Bear, attended a full day of hands on aviation education in a program known as “Youth Aviation Adventure” or YAA.  The Big Bear Airport Pilot’s Association organized and hosted the event that was founded in 1997 by two Ohio pilots to enable Boy Scouts to earn their Aviation Merit Badge. At the end of the day this weekend, 62 Boy Scouts satisfied the requirements to earn their Aviation merit badge.  In March of this year, BBAPA member Richard Foat suggested the idea that the Pilots Association host a YAA event to educate community youth on the many opportunities, rewards and careers that aviation has to offer.  Participants included scout leaders, airport volunteers, Big Bear City Fire personnel, Civil Air Patrol cadets, Upland Fire and Mercy Air Helicopters, and 2 dozen Big Bear pilots.  The children who participated learned about aircraft preflight checks, airport operations, airport firefighting operations, helicopters, aerodynamics, and careers in aviation, aircraft engines, homebuilt aircraft, and navigation.

Big Bear Airport District’s Lease Committee and Finance Committee Meeting Results

Big Bear City, CA, July 26, 2010, 12:00pm – On Friday, July 23rd, the Big Bear Airport District held consecutive meetings for the Lease Committee and the Finance Committee.  The Lease Committee comprised of Gloria Greene and Jay Obernolte, discussed issues relating to the airport hangers.  Per Airport General Manager, Pete Gwaltney, due to the number of vacant hangers rented by the Airport District, it was discussed at the last General Board meeting that an offer be made to contact the current tie-down renters, that is, those who tie-down their aircraft on the tarmac of the Airport rather than rent a hanger.  The offer would be for two months free hanger rent with a one-year signed rental agreement.  To date, the number of hanger vacancies now available through the rental program at the Big Bear City Airport is 16 hangers of their total 131 hangers, which represents a 12% vacancy.  Ina  side note, as of August 1, 2010, the Airport District will be acquiring an additional 10 hangers in “D” row from Nunno Corporation.  Nunno Corp is athe company that originally built the “D” row hangers in 1986 and they retained ownership until now, but, the contract between Nunno Corp and the Airport District states that the Airport would purchase the additional hangers as of August 1st per airport personnel.  The Finance Committee, comprised of Gloria Greene and Julie Smith, reviewed financial statements.  According to Mr. Gwaltney, the Airport District has $3.7 million dollars in reserves in a Local Agency Investment Fund earning at a rate of .56% interest.  The Airport District has been successful in saving approximately $800,000 a year anticipating the need to make a decision of whether or not to purchase the Airport building.  At the July 7th General Board meeting, the Board approved the CC&R’s and the condo map.  The files are now in the County approval process and the outcome is yet to be determined.

Helicopter Crash at Big Bear City Airport Causes Minor Injuries to the Pilot But the Helicopter is Totaled

Big Bear City, CA, July 24, 2010, 10:30am – Saturday morning at 10:07am, at the Big Bear City Airport, a single Bell JetRanger helicopter crash resulted in the sole occupant walking away from the accident with minor cuts to his head and elbow.  He refused medical attention from the paramedics on the scene.  According to the pilot and registered helicopter owner, Bob Miars from La Verne, lost tail rotor effectiveness as he was hovering just above the tarmac at the south side of the airport waiting for a Cessna airplane to pass.  A portion of one of the helicopter blades separated during the crash and flew into the window of a vacant house on Fairway causing minor damage.  The helicopter crashed upright into a drainage ditch on airport property.  As described by the pilot, the 1975 Bell 206B2 is a total loss.  Mr. Miars is an extremely experienced pilot with 6600 hours of helicopter hours having flown F4 Phantom fighters in the Air Force.  Coincidentally, three FAA inspectors out of Riverside were having breakfast at the airport when the crash occurred.  An investigation is underway.

Airport District Grants Easement for Construction of Big Bear Disposal Facility

Big Bear City, CA — The Board of Directors for the Big Bear Airport District, led by third-round President Jay Obernolte, convened for their monthly meeting this week and, among other items, addressed three ongoing topics. Among those, the revised Directors Policy Manual, which also outlines committee responsibilities, was approved. Airport staff, led by General Manager Pete Gwaltney, is working on updating the personnel manual and will then draft the airport’s first operations manual, which will be a go-to guide in the case of fire, fuel spill or other emergency. The Airport Board also completed their portion of terms and agreements with regard to the shared ownership of the airport building with Evergreen Properties (which owns 76% of the building, specifically the second floor and the two south wings). Upon completion of the preparations for the condo map, Evergreen will submit to the County, thereby opening the doors for potential transfer of ownership (of buildings, not the airport itself). The third ongoing item was with regard to comments made by Marge McDonald and printed in The Grizzly; though McDonald was not present this round, Director Butch Waymire reiterated the airport’s request for a retraction of erroneous comments by McDonald. The Airport District Board also took a field trip, across the runway, during the meeting of July 7. In response to an easement request, to allow for North Shore drainage (as required by the County) resulting from the pending construction of the Big Bear Disposal facility bordering the airport to the north, the board took a quick recess to visit the location for the easement, which will not impact airport operations or facilities. Upon return from the field trip, the meeting was resumed and the easement granted.

Fifteen Local Seats on November Ballot; Candidate Filing Begins Monday, July 12

Big Bear Valley, CA — Come Monday, July 12, those interested in running for local office in the November General Election may file candidate papers with the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters. The November 2, 2010 election will include federal, state and county offices (with candidates nominated in the June Primary Election), as well as 15 offices specific to the Big Bear Valley. Offices open to candidates Valley-wide include two seats on the board of the Bear Valley Community Healthcare District, two seats on the board of the Big Bear Airport District, and two seats on the school board for Bear Valley Unified School District. Residents within the City of Big Bear Lake* are potentially eligible for one of three seats on the City Council. There are also zone-specific seats available on the Big Bear Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors; two of these, Districts 2 and 3, in Big Bear Lake and one in District 1, which includes Fawnskin and Baldwin Lake. East Valley residents living within the service area of the Big Bear City Community Services District have opportunity to run for one of four seats up for election on the five-member CSD Board of Directors. Prospective candidates have until Friday, August 6 to file candidate papers with the Registrar of Voters in order to be included in the November General Election. Upon obtaining papers, candidates will receive information handbooks. For more information, contact the Registrar’s office in San Bernardino at 387-8300, or toll-free at 800/881-8683.
*Full-time Big Bear Lake residents are also eligible for appointment to the Planning Commission and the DWP Board of Commissioners (click to access more information).

City of Big Bear Lake Seeks Residents for Appointment to Planning Commission, DWP Board

Big Bear Lake, CA — The City of Big Bear Lake has two vacancies to fill—one on the Planning Commission, the other on the Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners—on terms that extend through June 2013. The Planning Commission is a five-member body, appointed by City Council, and meets on first and third Wednesday afternoons to make recommendations to Council on matters related to growth and development, such as General Plan amendments, specific plans and zone changes, as well as addressing development applications, such as conditional use permits, plot plan reviews, subdivisions and condominium maps. For these efforts, current Commissioners Anne Zimmerman, Jim DeGroot, Craig Smith and David Caretto receive a $400 monthly stipend. The DWP Board of Commissioners–which presently includes Big Bear Lake residents Steve Foulkes, Fred Miller, Bill Giamarino and Robert Tarras, each of whom also receives a $400 monthly stipend–meets on the third Tuesday morning of each month. Responsibilities of DWP Commissioners include decisions related to water conservation, supply, generation, distribution and sale of water and related services. Full-time Big Bear Lake residents interested in serving on either commission must be registered voters, and complete an application, available either at the Big Bear Lake Civic Center (at 39707 Big Bear Boulevard) or online at citybigbearlake.com. The application deadline is Wednesday, July 21 at 5pm. The City Council will interview prospective candidates for appointment to the Planning Commission and DWP Board.
(For details on benefits for other elected and appointed office holders within the Big Bear Valley, visit our previously posted stories on the Airport District Board, the Bear Valley Community Healthcare District, Big Bear Lake City Council, Big Bear City Community Services District, and the Big Bear Municipal Water District. Trustees for the Bear Valley Unified School District received a $240 monthly stipend if all meetings were attended, based on California Education Code section 35120a5, though the school board eliminated their stipends in accepting the budget cuts of “Plan B” on June 23.)

Airport District and School Board Hold Public Meetings Today, July 7

Big Bear Valley, CA — There are two public meetings scheduled for today (Wednesday, July 7), the first of which is this afternoon’s monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Big Bear Airport District. Today’s 2:30pm meeting, to be held in the airport pilots lounge at the Big Bear City Airport, will include two follow-up items from the June meeting: a second request for retraction of comments printed in The Grizzly and discussion on, and potential approval of, the covenants, conditions and restrictions of Evergreen Properties, the company which owns three-fourths of the airport building.
Later today, the Board of Trustees for the Bear Valley Unified School District convene for their regular board meeting, with open session at the school district offices scheduled to begin at 6:30pm. This evening’s BVUSD meeting will include a summary of the district’s 3rd interim report from the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and may also include continued discussion on budget cuts made during the school board’s June 23rd meeting.

Airport District and GM Pete Gwaltney Demand Retraction of Printed Remarks by Marge McDonald

Big Bear City, CA — While much of the community was on the other side of town for the Team Jordan Romero welcome at BBMS, the Airport District Board was in session for their monthly meeting, being held at the airport in Big Bear City. Among items covered was the ongoing airport building negotiations between Evergreen Properties (which owns 76% of the building, specifically the second floor and the two south wings), and the Airport District (which owns the terminal, including spaces occupied by the Barnstorm Restaurant and KBHR Radio, as well as the airport land, long ago deeded to the district by San Bernardino County). Airport President Jay Obernolte and Director Butch Waymire reported on June 9 that financial responsibilities between the two entities had been agreed upon with regard to repair and maintenance and, at present, respective counsels for the Airport District and Evergreen are reviewing the agreement.

The heat of this month’s Airport District Board meeting, however, was centered upon comments related to the board and General Manager Pete Gwaltney, specifically those comments written by Marge McDonald and printed in the Big Bear Grizzly. Director Waymire had asked that erroneous comments made by McDonald be addressed on the June 9 agenda and, with McDonald in attendance, the content of these letters was referenced as lies; for his part, GM Gwaltney, with legal counsel in attendance, asked that a retraction be printed. McDonald’s letters had inferred flagrant spending by Gwaltney and the district, suggesting that taxpayers funds held by the district would be fettered away and that “He [Gwaltney] will bankrupt the airport in six months.” This false claim was addressed by Director Julie Smith, who noted, “We have more than doubled the reserves in the last three years.” Smith went on to say that the board will be adding $1.15 million to reserve holdings in this coming fiscal year which, all told, will amount to a reserve balance of $4.65 million for the Airport District by July 2011. In response to demands for a retraction, McDonald said that she had two sources for the information used in her letters to the editor, though did not name them; it was Director Gloria Ann Green who volunteered that she had provided some of that information. Members of the public supported the airport’s call for retraction and, answered McDonald, “I said I would apologize for things that are wrong.”
That said, the board moved on to other, business-related items, including approval of the Airport District Board budget for 2010/11, which accounts for a total income of nearly $2.3 million and yet expenses amounting to $1.1 million.

Airport District Board to Address Erroneous Reports in June 9 Meeting

Big Bear City, CA — The monthly meeting of the Board of Directors for the Big Bear Airport District takes place tomorrow afternoon (June 9) at 2:30pm in the airport pilots lounge in Big Bear City. Old Business items on the agenda will include an update on the May meeting with Evergreen, owners of portions of the airport terminal building, while New Business is said to include a correction of items printed in the Big Bear Grizzly. Meetings of the Airport District Board, which includes President Jay Obernolte, Vice President Julie Smith, and Directors Butch Waymire, Chuck Knight and Gloria Ann Green, are open to the public.

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