Airport 80D’s Runway 36/18 Gets Free $48K Facelift

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Senior Staff Writer

HARRISON – The Clare County Airport 80D has received much attention of late, some of it negative in terms of the Clare County Board of Commissioners’ action to defund the airport by removing that line item from its 2024-2025 budget. However, it should not be forgotten how much some dedicated, ambitious and knowledgeable people have accomplished over the past two years in their efforts to restore and revitalize the airport.

No growth and improvement succeeds without first having a plan, and after many years of neglect such a plan had been put into place; that plan remains despite the funding being removed. A strong start on the plan is the work that has been accomplished in order to meet FAA-MDOT requirements: trees removal to provide the required approach path, and closing Runway 23/5 [because tree removal to meet federal clearance requirements would be too extensive]. Hangar lease funding is still available [currently costing less than $300 annually], but with the budget cut the plan to re-seed Turf Runway 9/27 was put on hold to 2025.

In June 2023 the BOC accepted a no-strings $48,000 Michigan Department of Transportation-Office of Aeronautics Fiscal Recovery Funds crack sealing/painting contract for Runway 36/18 [despite dissenting votes cast by commissioners George Gilmore and Samantha Pitchford]. Last week that work was completed by PK Contracting whose several trucks and a more agile paint applicator vehicle essentially swarmed Runway 36/18 and, in the course of several hours, made it safer and regulations compliant.

The plan for the airport’s rehabilitation and growth remains, while ideas continue to be tossed around – from grants to fundraisers – all aeronautics focused. For now, the immediate goal is to complete the runway and taxiway lighting upgrade which will check off one more essential item on the MDOT-OA requirements list. After all, when the subject is flying, it’s always safety first.