THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2007
Airport 'Club' Deal By End of '07?
By RICHARD MAYER
Journal Reporter
Chicago Executive Airport board members decided at Wednesday's Board of Directors meeting to move forward with a plan to bring a private club, worth nearly $25 million in privately funded money, to the airport within the next couple of years.
"We are moving as fast as possible," said Airport Manager Dennis Rouleau. "We would like to cut an agreement by end of this year."
At the Thursday, Nov. 1 airport board meeting, Colorado-based X-Jet World President Josh Stewart presented his plans for the club to board members.
According to Rouleau, Stewart wants to build a handful of hangars that will include a clubhouse and possibly a new restaurant on 14-acres just south of the airport's control tower. XJet World would offer "premium" hangar space to "high-end" customers for a defined price.
"The customers would enter into long term leases, between 10-15 years, which guarantees those customers will stay with the company for a long period of time. They would also offer their members a discount on fuel," said Rouleau.
According to XJet World, other aspects of the project include:
* Economic advantages from aggregate purchasing power, including fuel priced delivered cost, reduced costs for pilot training, maintenance, insurance and other associated aircraft expenses.
* An XJet concierge team, including a full suite of services from flight planning and aircraft provisioning to destination services such as booking hotels, limousines and other on-ground amenities.
* XJet Chef provides custom in-flight catering by Chef Bruno Bruesch.
* XJet allows clients to offset ownership costs through increased utilization within XJet's selected clientele and the ability to choose from a diverse fleet of premium aircraft, allowing charter members to match their travel needs with the appropriate jet.
* XJet Spa provides complete detailing solutions to ensure asset preservation.
* XJet Auto Spa provides automotive detailing, maintenance and climate-controlled storage for clients' vehicles.
A similar facility is expected to be completed in Denver by the end of 2008. A second facility in Michigan has already been announced.
"This benefits the entire region," said Rouleau. "This facility would compliment everything around here. There are high-end restaurants and hotels all along Milwaukee Avenue."
According to Rouleau, the airport board is listening to a few other proposals for the airport. If the board decides to move forward with this project, construction is expected to begin by spring or summer of 2008. The contract would state XJet would have two years to develop the project, but Rouleau doesn't anticipate for it to take that long.
Also Wednesday, board members approved a resolution that defines additional duties of the chairman of the Chicago Executive Airport Board of Directors and the resolution approving the renewal of airport insurance policies.
The intergovernmental agreements establish the framework for the operation of the airport and provides as follows:
"The chairman shall be the presiding officer at all meetings of the board. The chairman shall be considered a member of the board, shall only vote on matters in the event of a tie vote of the members and shall have the right to participate in debate and discussion. The chairman shall act as official spokesperson of the board and shall perform all additional duties as may be directed by the board or as prescribed under the board's rules and orders."
It was decided and approved that unless approved by a majority of the Board of Directors at a regularly scheduled or special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Airport, the chairman of the board will have no duties beyond those assigned to the post of chairman in the intergovernmental agreement.
This stems from earlier this year when issues regarding chairman duties for former Chairman Kevin Dohm came into question. Dohm eventually resigned his position.