THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2008
City Managers Removed From Airport Board
By RICHARD MAYER
Journal Reporter
Prospect Hts. City Administrator Pam Arrigoni and Wheeling Village Manager Mark Rooney may no longer sit on the board of directors for Chicago Executive Airport (CEA), after both municipalities agreed during a joint meeting Tuesday night to remove them so they can better focus on their respective jobs in each town.
Prospect Hts. will look into replacing Arrigoni with an alderman or a citizen. The Village of Wheeling is looking into appointing a current trustee to fill its position.
"This is nothing against either of them," said Airport Manager Dennis Rouleau. "They both have done an outstanding job for us."
The change and new appointments are expected to come within the next 1-2 months.
The board also approved changes to its intergovernmental agreement that includes job descriptions of the airport board chairman and airport manager, along with requirements of hiring and firing the board chairman.
However, the resolution has not officially been adopted as of yet, due to language of the resolution needing "tweaking."
Airport Manager Dennis Rouleau was originally required to report any airport information to the board of directors. However, that changed, as he was then ordered to report to the board chairman. Then, it was decided that he once again report back to the board of directors.
Officials also discussed the idea of Waste Management utilizing the airport's sewer system, as Waste Management has had recent problems with its septic system, according to Arrigoni.
Rouleau said the airport's sanitary sewer lane on the south side of Sumac Road has the capacity to take on Waste Management.
"Waste Management would tap into our line for a construction and yearly maintenance fees," said Rouleau. "This would bring in additional money for the airport."
Rouleau said the connection fee would be $43,613.98 and the yearly maintenance fee would total $2,168.68.
This issue is expected to be presented to the airport board in April and then presented to both Wheeling and Prospect Hts. elected officials for final approval. If approved, the operation could begin as early as late spring, Rouleau said.
Lastly, both towns discussed the idea of developing two hangars and a terminal on approximately 10 acres of land on the east portion of the airport.
According to Rouleau, the project would cost approximately $8-$10 million. This issue was on the airport's board meeting agenda last night (Wednesday) for possible approval.
Airport board members recently approved designs to redevelop the southeast quadrant of the airport.