Airport Committee Tightens Up for Winter, Plans for Spring

HARRISON – Commissioners present at the December meeting of the Clare County Airport Committee were David Hoefling and Gabe Ambrozaitis. Absent were Commissioner Rickie Fancon and Administrator Lori Phelps. The meeting began with approval of the agenda and the minutes of the November meeting.

Airport manager Gale Bensinger’s report was brief, noting he was waiting on bids.

Under Old Business, there was brief discussion of runway repairs and painting to be done under grant in FY 2024.

Winter projects included agreements with property owners for tree removal which Ambrozaitis said had been completed and were with the county administrator. Trees on one of the properties would require double-checking for any possible additional trees in the spring. Ambrozaitis said the MDOT Bureau of Aeronautics would need to receive photos of those downed trees prior to the Feb. 29 deadline. He also noted the Provisional License is valid until Feb. 29, barring an extension, or if MDOT BOA gives 80D the OK and again grants a full Basic Utility License.

Spring Projects items include: Rotating Beacon Light Shed repairs, which will require an assessment; Windsock Tower Repair; Repair of Turf Runways, which will be done after a new gate installation in the spring. That new, wider gate (priced at $402 per 16-foot section) will be installed near the Clare County Transit Corp.

New Business included motions to:

-Permanently close the diagonal Runway 5/23 effective Dec. 31, 2023, for all aircraft landings and takeoffs. [This will require informing MDOT BOA, filing a NOTAM and ensuring everyone is informed.]

-Approve the bid for tree removal with Kelly’s Tree Service for $3,800 [lowest bid of three received] for 13 trees [includes stump grinding].

-Move $3,800 out of Expenditures Line 295-000933.000 Maintenance.

-Accept the Airport Committee meetings schedule for 2024, as being the fourth Tuesday of every month unless noted. [May 21, Nov.19 and Dec.17 meetings will accommodate holidays.]

Ambrozaitis also reported having visited with Gayle Peterson, owner of Jackie’s Airport Restaurant. He said they had a productive 40-minute discussion where he outlined all the things the Airport Committee was attempting to do with the airport, where it’s headed and how it’s trying to get there. Ambrozaitis said she was visibly relieved, very thankful, and willing to work with the Committee in any way, shape or form. He said that leaves a new restaurant lease agreement, which he would work on with the intent of getting it to her by the first of the year. Ambrozaitis said a hangar lease agreement would also be ready then for Dennis Mott.

As the county administrator was unable to attend this meeting, there was no grant update.

There also was discussion of closing the airport for the winter for safety reasons, or keep it open in order to not harm restaurant business. It was noted that the runways could be closed with a NOTAM citing “field conditions not reported: no snow plowing,” without actually closing the airport itself. For now, possible airport closure was tabled until more information could be gleaned as to what the effects of such closure would be.

Under Public Comment, pilot Bob Ash of the Harrison Area Pilots Association said he had created two 5-by-16 foot vinyl HAPA banners with the intention of hanging one on the east side of his own hanger, and sought approval to hang the other on the north side of the county’s hanger as informational signage. It was decided the Committee would need to research whether signage is allowed on county property. Ambrozaitis acceded there is no requirement for Basic Utility airports to have written rules, but said prior discussions concluded that an airport without rules is chaos. So instituted rules would do well to include signage guidelines, i.e., “the Harrison Area Pilots Association is allowed to do this.” He emphasized the importance of doing due diligence to avoid opening a can of worms. Ambrozaitis also reiterated that anything done at the airport must be aviation related.

Carl Lounsbury added two of his own comments: “I think it would be nice if we had three commissioners on the Committee that showed up. And for the winter kind of flying, actually, you get some of these nice cool bluebird days, they’re probably some of the best flying weather you can get – if they can land.”

Near the end of the meeting, Ambrozaitis also informed that he had accepted the position of manager of Clare Municipal Airport 48D beginning Jan. 1, 2024. He described it as a large endeavor and noted some of the amenities enjoyed by 48D as a NPIAS-funded airport. He said it has a 12,000-gallon fuel tank farm, selling 100 low lead fuel.

Focusing back on Clare County Airport 80D, Ambrozaitis spoke of what the future might hold there. He spoke of a $150,000 tank to start, and that “Having fuel at 80D would be great, but we have to come up with $150,000.” When it was suggested that a grant might be sought to fund that fuel option, he noted that the ability to create jobs is a priority for grant funding. He reminded that the 80D priority lies with a terminal and runway.

The Clare County Airport Committee meets next at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23 in the Board of Commissioners Room, Clare County Building, 225 W. Main in Harrison. © Clare County Cleaver