Saxon Unmanned Joint Training Center Discussed Termination
Monday, September 26, members of the Eureka City Council heard a presentation from JEO Consulting Group, Inc. in regards to their engineering services offered.
Three company representatives were present: Dave Nolte, who discussed water and wastewater, Brad Shores, who discussed their firm and over-all services offered and Jeremy Kaemmer who discussed asset management.
Following a Request for Quotes (RFQ) issued by the city, JEO Consulting Group, Inc. began looking at the city’s needs. Shores told members of the council that JEO Consulting Group, Inc. is a full-service consulting firm, with all services being geared around serving municipalities. The company serves as city engineer for 150 communities, with a majority of those being small towns. In regards to statements made that the city wants to stop being reactive and start being proactive, JEO representatives noted that they heard this message very clearly.
In his discussion of asset management, Kaemmer shared that they begin with inventory and assessment, review of data and maps and assessment of road conditions. Once roads owned are outlined and their condition is assessed, the next step in the process is consideration of treatment alternatives. After cities understand their options, fiscal constraints and community goals are then mapped out. Kaemmer noted the importance of ensuring that research based design standards are applied in building/rebuilding roads so that they last. Efficient use of sales tax dollars was included within discussion. Continuous planning for the future, including tracking condition, data and spending was noted.
Kaemmer explained that as plans are formed, they encourage that needs, plans and issues be communicated and laid out for community awareness. “All this comes down to is saving you money and maximizing what you have,” stated Kaemmer. He then discussed typical budget targets for midwest cities: 5-10% preservation, 30-40% rehabilitation and 50-60% reconstruction. He noted that this is up to 70% more effective than the worst-first plan. As discussion continued, it was noted that JEO has individuals on staff to aid with grant opportunities at no added cost to the cities they serve.
Representatives and affiliates associated with the outgoing management company for the Lieutenant William M. Milliken Airport, Saxon Unmanned Joint Training Center (SUJTC), were present last Monday evening. After introducing his son Ian Ferguson and associate Heather Hobbs, owner of SUJTC, John Ferguson discussed the city’s decision in late August to terminate their contract for management.
J. Ferguson began by offering an apology to the council in regards to their recent performance. He explained that when he stood in front of the council, when they were first entering into a management contract, J. Ferguson had shared that he had never ran an airport, but SUJTC was going to figure it out.
After sharing that he had stated there were going to be good and bad times, but they would stick together, J. Ferguson referenced his son. J. Ferguson noted that he was not looking to throw his son, who began managing the airport on behalf of SUJTC in 2022, “under the bus,” however he had clearly not performed well in the management position. Based on his performance, the Fergusons noted that they had come to an agreement that I. Ferguson needed to move on from the position.
J. Ferguson then outlined some issues he saw, noting that the city had not entirely met its end of the agreement. J. Ferguson told the city council that the management company had only received fuel for the mowers a couple of times. J. Ferguson noted that the city was also supposed to provide paper supplies and both these expenses had come out of his pocket. J. Ferguson noted that when they took over management, the city trimmer/weed eater was inoperable, tractor had a bent exhaust and the Bush Hog did not work. J. Ferguson shared that they were also accused of cutting kitties and leaving rubber marks on the concrete. He noted that the tires on the mower were old and no matter how slowly it was turned, they left marks. In regards to runway lights, J. Ferguson noted that they have been in communication with the city about these for a long duration. During discussion, he continued that little response had been received from the city in regards to the runway lights. J. Ferguson noted that these navigation lights are a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirement and thus have to be changed. He explained that the city administrator had returned his email in regards to the lights and instructed them to get a quote. I. Ferguson then elaborated, sharing that when he first became manager of the airport in 2022, a storm damaged the roof of the facilities house. With the expense to the city for the roof, there had not been sufficient budget to repair/purchase lights. He then described difficulty searching for quotes for needed lights.
J. Ferguson next noted that no performance reviews had been conducted, adding that it had been a rash decision to terminate the contract and it had not been brought to the airport board for consideration. He told members of the council he had invested funds in improvements to the hangar and lounge in good faith that the contract would stand.
After Hobbs and J. Ferguson discussed their business partnership, roasting coffee, and noting that they had been looking for a location in Eureka, Hobbs referenced ideas for events at the airport including an animal adoption day.
J. Ferguson asked that SUJTC be allowed to right the wrong, suggesting that they return to monthly or even weekly reporting. He explained that he had been in the process of moving into the airport to take over management when the deputy delivered the termination letter and asked that he be given the opportunity to fix the problem. As J. Ferguson noted intent to bring traffic to the airport, councilman Jeff Marks noted that he was a newer member of the council and asked if SUJTC had communicated/asked before making changes to the hangar and facility. Marks asked for an overview. J. Ferguson explained that everyone knew what he was going to do and the city was aware that he would be paying for updates/repairs. As he referenced communication with the city, J. Ferguson stated that he believed there was a personality conflict and he was hoping for the opportunity to fix the problem.
Marks then referenced photos provided to officials of damage caused at the facility and stated that based on these it did not appear that they were protecting the city’s interest. After noting that a plane had been damaged, Marks questioned if they had ever come to the city for fuel requests, adding that it sounded like communication had been dropped. In regards to the plane, J. Ferguson noted that his insurance would be covering this.
In regards to the airport facility, Marks commented that the city had to protect the investment. He continued by stating that their interest in bringing things to Eureka was awesome, but officials had been upset over damages documented in photos provided after facility assessment. J. Ferguson further noted that he had not seen the photos.
In regards to previous statements made by the Fergusons indicated that the mowers were damaged prior to them taking over management, Councilman Richard Drake noted that this was inaccurate. He shared that though this might be true in regards to one mower, the other had been purchased not long before they took over management. Drake remarked that the mowers needed to be maintained and he did not believe this was done. In reference to this, I. Ferguson noted that the only thing he had damaged was the wheel on a mower deck. In regards to mower maintenance, he added that he did not possess the knowledge to do so when he stepped into the role.
Mayor Stephen Coulter stated that the action taken by the council had arisen from a culmination of issues. Coulter noted that though fault may not fall on SUJTC alone, there had not been fuel for planes and there has been less air traffic than the city had seen previously. He added that it was now solely areal sprayers utilizing the facility. He noted that the airport was better than it had been formerly, but was still not where the city would like to see it. After noting that they were working to increase traffic at the airport, J. Ferguson shared that he wanted new members of the council to know that they had left fuel to the city, noting that they could have put this in themselves to receive the profit.
J. Ferguson then referenced a comment, he noted as being inaccurate, circulated by a former airport board member, who he alleged had stated planes don’t stop in Eureka because of the drones.
I. Ferguson added that they had taken steps to notify people that the municipal airport had fuel. He noted that there had then been some revenue generated to the city from fuel sales. I. Ferguson encouraged members of the council to visit the airport. “Yeah, I neglected my duties as the airport manager, I didn’t maintain everything properly. That’s my fault,” said I. Ferguson as he expressed that blame should fall on him and not his father.
As discussion continued, councilman Marks questioned why monthly reports generated by SUJTC had stopped. It was noted that these had concluded when I. Ferguson took over management. Coulter noted that he would be in touch on mowing, lighting and logistics after he has time to discuss them with the council.
Council member Cinda Beals questioned in regards to the proposed transfer of lake lot 81, inquiring about the investment company that has purchased other properties at the lake. Real Estate agent Becky Schaffer explained that the individual affiliated with Cam Investment Properties LLC lives in one house at the lake, sold one on contract and was purchasing this to sell on contract to an individual who wanted the home, but could not afford the purchase price. Members of the council approved the lot transfer.
The consent agenda was approved. This included the following items: Minutes of the September 11 meeting, scheduled claims list for expenses due through September 25 in the amount of $72,632.94, purchase order 728489 to Brenntag for $6,800.50 and purchase order 729203 to Graber Backhoe Inc. for $5,885.
Members of the council approved the resignation of councilwoman Cindy Wolfsbauer. Wolfsbauer stepped away from the board as she will be working for the city. With her resignation, the City of Eureka will be looking to fill the now vacant Ward 2 seat.
In the absence of City Administrator Lucas Herb-Mullin, officials conceded to discuss his resignation when he is present.
A 10-minute executive session for discussion of personnel was held, with Clerk Renee Burk and City Attorney James Watson attending. No action was taken following the session. Council members convened for a second session for the same subject, for 10-minutes. No action was taken following the session.
Member Beals was added to the Quality of Life council subcommittee.
The next meeting of the Eureka City Council will be held on Monday, October 9 at 7 p.m.
