Commissioners Hear Pilots’ Support for Airport Grant Funding

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Senior Staff Writer

HARRISON – In the first Public Comment period at the April 16 meeting of the Clare County Board of Commissioners, seven people addressed the Board regarding the $254,806 in Michigan Department of Transportation grants being presented for acceptance that day. Those grants were awarded through the FY 25 State Local Program and designated for runway lighting and runway crack sealing.

Kennicott, former airport manager, sought information regarding what might be in place as a joint effort by Clare County, Hayes Township and the City of Harrison. Chairman Gilmore replied that there was no positive information before the Board. Kennicott said there needs to be a plan, and that the State of Michigan Aeronautics figures the Clare County Airport is worth $250,000.

“So, I think the County Board of Commissioners ought to get on the stick and set up some sort of joint funding which we talked about; we had one back in 2019,” he said. “Joint funding, so there’s a stable source of income for the airport.”

County resident Randy Gray spoke next, saying he wasn’t necessarily against funding of an airport, but wanted to know whether it would be grant money – which he noted was taxpayer money, not free money. He also wanted to know what benefit the airport had for the community.

Pilot and hanger owner Robert Ash then spoke of the BOC decision to defund the airport.

“You had a speaker from Oakland County, and he spoke against funding the airport,” Ash said. “I grew up in Oakland County and we used to go hunting in the backyard just like you do here around Harrison. Since then, it’s turned into one of the most valuable counties in the country, and a lot of it has to do with the airports. I visit those airports all the time, and they’re busy hustling, bringing business, people, everything, to the airport and it’s a great benefit.” He then referred to the previous comment regarding grant money being taxpayer money, saying that if the Board chooses not to accept the $250,000-plus grant, it will go to another airport.

“It’s already designated by the FAA for funding for an airport,” Ash said. “If we don’t get it, somebody else will.” He then proposed the BOC accept the grant funding.

Stan Luke, another hanger owner/pilot, spoke next to explain his personal interest in the success of the airport.

“To answer a couple questions,” he said. “I’ve been saving for my whole life in order to be able to train people. I’m an active member of the EAA [Experimental Aircraft Association] and I hangar an airplane currently at 57D, which is Ray Community Airport. All summer long, we fly over 100 kids per month on their first flight, a program sponsored by EAA, which I would like to get started here.”

Luke explained that he currently has two older trainer planes from the World War II era and would like to bring them to 80D. He noted the grants currently coming from the FAA for 18-year-olds who are starting to learn to fly are about $13,000 to $14,000. That leads the young pilots to running out of money before completing their flight lessons.

“These planes can be flown for $30/hour, so the difference between the cost for them to learn and get their pilot’s license is substantially less,” Luke said. “And also, they’re in a 501(c)(3) so we can get donations or encourage donations to help kids learn to fly, and that may be an advantage. That’s my plan; it’s going to happen at this airport if you choose to keep it and fund it. If it doesn’t, I’ll probably get rid of my hangar and I’ll get somewhere else to go.”

Luke said it is a benefit to the community, and there isn’t currently any way for kids to have that kind of advance, but that down the road there could be some STEM which could help kids learn how to build things, which he said is what EAA is all about – building airplanes.

“I hope you make the right decision,” he said. “If you let this asset go, you’ll never get it back.” Luke went on to speak of his grandfather taking him out to the airport where he saw thousands of small planes. “I would encourage you to consider that … the money’s going to go somewhere. Why not make it here? I chose this place, and I’d like to be here if I can.”

Harrison resident and private pilot Tom Stier spoke next to encourage the Board to accept the grant.

“I think the airport is a benefit to the whole community,” he said. “And I also think that, as the airport would be developed, there’re businesses that would set up shop there. And those taxes that pay for those employees would really benefit the whole community. Upgrading the lights – pilots want to fly into a place that’s safe – and that would go a long way to making sure that’s safe.”

Emerson Corder spoke next, describing himself as an aspiring pilot who has spent the last few years specifically looking into becoming a pilot. He said the reason he had not yet done so because he was waiting for the MOSAIC [Modernization of Special AIrworthiness Certification] rules to take effect, adding, “I believe [that] will be a huge benefit to this county, to that airport, when those rules take effect.” He described MOSAIC as making becoming a pilot much easier for those who can’t afford to get a full pilot’s license because it expands light aircraft rules.

“I’ve never been in this room before today, but there’s something very interesting I see on that seal [the wall-mounted Clare County Seal] and that’s the word tourism,” he said. “Most people don’t want to admit it, this is a tourist town. This town thrives on tourism, we don’t have much for industry; most of our industry is service. You can’t survive on a service-only economy unless you have people bringing in fresh money – that’s what tourism does.” Corder then noted the climate changes that have reduced snowfall, diminishing the snowmobile tourism economy. “Pilots have money, they spend money. One reason pilots don’t come to 80D [pilots have told him] was the condition of the runway and a lack of services. He then spoke of a hangar leaseholder who intended to create a repair facility with an A&P mechanic.

“That’s huge,” he said. “That’s going to be huge for attracting pilots to come here because they’ll have a place to have their plane fixed.” Corder then referred to the long-term plan to build a terminal which would include space for the restaurant and a pilot’s lounge, describing those elements as things that would attract pilots. “We all know the term ‘you’ve got to spend money to make money,’ and that’s no different in this case. You have to spend some money in the short term to see long-term gains. I think we can do that with this airport. I’ve been coming up here a long time and two of my favorite memories are of seeing those airplanes land and being able to talk to the pilots. Don’t give up on the airport.”

Aaron Lonsway, who served two tours in Iraq as a Marine, described his service as including working on CH-46 Echo helicopters, noting he is also an A&P.

“I have been coming to these [meetings] very recently and been sitting back and hoping that everybody on this board can see that this will bring people in, -- tourism, money – to this town,” Lonsway said. “My grandparents moved up here ’65-ish, and they bought a place over in Dodge City, and it’s been passed through generations to me and now I live there. I’ve got to watch this place grow and change, but I also know the underlying current that does go on in many counties and townships. We go back and forth about transparency; I would like to see this county and this township thrive. I moved to Clare [County] because it was veteran-based and I had a stable place to come home to, after years being unstable.”

Lonsway said that what kept him grounded was being part of the aviation crew, and the maintenance crew when he served.

“I went back to school, got my license and continued,” he said. “I have well over 15 years just in maintenance. So, I ask the Board to at least consider the grant that is coming in and please, please don’t make it personal. Let’s do what’s good for the county.”

Later in the meeting when the motions were presented to accept the [no-match] MDOT grants for airport lighting and runway crack sealing, Commissioner Jack Kleinhardt moved the motions be tabled until the next meeting. He expressed misgivings about airport costs in the future, and Commissioner George Gilmore spoke of lighting costs substantially increasing the utility bill. Commissioner Gabe Ambrozaitis explained that the lights are pilot activated by clicking their microphone five to seven times whereupon the lights go on for 15 minutes, then shut off.

Kleinhardt then said he didn’t want to keep kicking the can down the road, and it’s time the Board decided what it was going to do.

“What would be the sense in putting the lights in and nothing changes?” he asked. “I need to know what’s the cost in the future if we keep this thing going?”

At that point, Administrator Lori Phelps informed that she believed the Board would need to appropriate $30,000 a year to adequately fund the airport. She estimated annual maintenance, gas, utilities and insurance costs for the airport at roughly $17,000-$18,000; airport manager salary would be additional. Ambrozaitis then pointed out that about $10,000 is realized through rents, which offsets a lot of the costs.

Commissioner Jeff Haskell then sought clarification that the tabling would mean the decision would be made at the next meeting as to whether the County would fund the airport or disband it. Hearing that was the choice, he made the following comments.

“I’d like to say something about that, that no one’s really brought up,” he said. “We’ve heard from the people [gesturing to those present], and I’ve talked to the people in the community. And, if it does cost us $30,000 a year, with all the work and improvements that are going to go on here, I feel it’d be a crime to let that go, as a county. As he [Stan Luke] said, once it’s gone, it’s way too expensive to ever get back. And for that little bit of money that would affect our budget – I feel it’s a no-brainer.”

Commissioner Rickie Fancon then voiced his concern, based on the county’s maturing staffing and their approaching retirement costs, that the county avoid being faced with the budget problems facing neighboring counties.

“I want to make sure we’re making the right decision,” he said. “That’s where I’m coming from.”

 Kleinhardt said he wanted to know what projected costs would be, as well as who would be adversely affected if the airport was closed down.

“What would happen to the restaurant, what would happen to the land?” he said. “Is the state going to put it up for sale? There are things that will affect some people down the line and I would like to know, as well as we can – we’re not going to get all the answers. But I just think 30 days is not too long to wait, and then we will have a final decision.”

The Board then voted to table the two MDOT motions until the May meeting.

During the second Public Comment, Dewayne Rogers, Clare County Road Commission managing director, offered an update of ongoing/upcoming road projects, including road work and a bridge demolition on Colonville Road, with a July 4 completion date. Other work included a bridge being completed at the intersection of Cook and Monroe; gravel work on Bringold in Lincoln Township; paving 5.5 miles of Cook Road in Winterfield Township; paving Cornwell north of Long Lake between Frost and Franklin townships.

Additionally, Rogers said he would like to open a discussion regarding the airport. He referenced an earlier comment about taxpayer money, and said he hears that often as well.

“MDOT obviously has an aeronautics department, so they recognize airplanes as a mode of transportation,” he said. “Which, MDOT Aeronautics would be funded by all our taxpayer money, including me. Transit is a mode of transportation, and $40,000 of my budget goes toward our Clare County Transit system, so they get that annually from me. Obviously, we don’t participate with the airport at this point.”

Rogers said he wasn’t sure which way he thought about it, but has had discussions with several people – knows some people are against it, some are for it – as goes with everything.

“My gut tells me it’s good thing for our community,” he said. “I’m not an airport expert, but it’s pretty much the same fundamentals as road work and bridge work, and all that same stuff. I don’t know how it would all work out, but I want to put the thought in your head before possibly you turn down the grant money or disband the airport. I think the road commission would like to have a conversation more in depth on that topic.”

Rogers has stepped forward previously, problem-solver that he is, and enabled a commercial aggregate-mastic product demonstration to be done on the airport runway which very effectively sealed some deep, long-term cracks. It also should not be lost that the diligent work of those committed to the success of 80D has resulted in securing no-match funding for last year’s runway repair and remarking, as well as the recently awarded grant funds which exceed a quarter-million dollars.

Using five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall Street determined the 35 poorest counties in Michigan, with results posted April 11, 2024. The statewide poverty rate was 13.1%. Clare County’s rate was 22.1% with an unemployment rate of 9.3% and a median income of $47,816. That was second only to Isabella County whose numbers, respectively, were 23.6%, 7.2% and $52,638. In neighboring Gladwin County, the numbers were 14.2%, 6.9% and $53,717. It is not a leap to see the MDOT airport grant funds as a substantial influx of infrastructure enhancing dollars into the second poorest county in the state.

Bind the willingness of the road commission managing director to explore how his department might possibly lend assistance, to benefit the airport going forward, with the highly knowledgeable, capable and energetic people who have taken on the work and who desire to continue seeing it through to fruition – and the light of possibility begins to shine brighter.

With such an amalgamation of willingness and commitment to work toward a goal, coupled with no-match grant dollars ready to fall from the sky, it could rightly be said that worrying about what gloom and doom might lie ahead in the future is actually off target. Why? Because an abundance of success factors are already in place – and the future is actually happening right now.

© Clare County Cleaver