With four seats about to be vacated from the The Airport Public Advisory Committee (APAC), The Knox County Commission is asking for nominations to fill those seats.

The Airport Public Advisory Committee (APAC) is designed to provide a link between the Midcoast communities, the Airport Manager and the County. The ten-seat committee is specifically tasked to facilitate airport communications flow, to and from local communities and citizens, as well as provide aviation, environmental and business advice for airport management. Committee members are appointed to the ten seats, with staggered terms.

The terms for the South Thomaston Seat (Representing the Town of South Thomaston), the District #2 Seat (representing Appleton, Cushing, Friendship, Union, Warren and Washington) and the Airport Business Seat (representing on-airport businesses), expire this year.

There is also an anticipated vacancy in the District #1 seat (representing Saint George, Rockland, South Thomaston and Thomaston) due to a pending resignation. The representative appointed to the District #1 Seat will serve out the current term which is for one remaining year.

The Bylaws allow individuals to serve up to three consecutive terms. The County Commission will still consider any and all nominees and will fill these seats, for three year terms, with the exception of the District #1 Seat (one year), during the April 11, 2023 County Commission meeting.

Nominations should be sent to the Airport Manager, Jeremy Shaw (jshaw@knoxcountymaine.gov), the respective towns associated with a district or seat, or any current member of the APAC by March 13, 2023. The APAC will compile these nominations for the County Commission. Citizens interested in becoming a member of the APAC should notify their town office as soon as possible.

The APAC normally meets the second Monday of each month, in the Airport Manager’s office, at 5 p.m.

There are four standing sub-committees (Environmental, Public Relations, Operations/Maintenance and Business Plan) which meet on an as needed basis. All these meetings are open to the public and anybody interested in attending any meeting or serving on one of the sub-committees should contact the Airport Manager or one of the following APAC members:

District #1 Seat: Brad Ketcher, Owls Head (Tended Resignation in 2023)

District #2 Seat: Roger Peabody, Warren (term expires: 2023)

District #3 Seat: Dick Witherspoon, Vinalhaven (term expires: 2024)

Environmental Seat: Linda Garat, South Thomaston (term expires: 2024)

South Thomaston Seat: Jan Gaudio, South Thomaston (term expires: 2023)

Business Seat: Jeff Northgraves, South Thomaston (term expires: 2024)

Airport Business Seat: Bill Packard, Union (term expires: 2023)

Flying Club Seat: TJ Copeland, Camden (term expires: 2025)

Commercial Pilot: Aladar Nesser, Owls Head (term expires: 2025)

Owls Head Seat: Adam Philbrook, Owls Head (term expires: 2025)

Additional information, APAC Charter, By-Laws, meeting agendas and meeting minutes can be found at http://www.knoxcountymaine.gov/airport