Airport to Seek 4 MDOT Grant Opportunities

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Senior Staff Writer

HARRISON – Committee members present for the March 24 meeting of the Clare County Airport Committee were Commissioners Gabe Ambrozaitis and David Hoefling, with Commissioner Rickie Fancon absent.

After approval of the day’s meeting agenda and minutes of the February meeting, Emerson Corder provided his Airport Manager’s Report. He began by noting that CW Jayson Zylstra, accompanied by his copilot Warrant Officer Sean Moody had flown in the previous Wednesday on Zylstra’s final flight as a chief warrant officer with the Michigan Army National Guard.

“It was cool to have him choose our airport to be part of his final flight,” Corder said, adding that he and  Ambrozaitis hadn’t thought they would because of poor weather. “But they did; they came in and we got to have lunch with them – and got to hear some pretty neat stories. Two really awesome warrant officers.”

Corder also informed of having done maintenance on the airport’s zero-turn lawnmower in readiness for spring. Additionally, the snowblower had been removed from the John Deere tractor and the oil and air filter changed. He also noted having spoken with J. Ranck Electric, who planned to be onsite the week prior to the egg drop event to complete all backfilling and removal of the residual dirt pile left from the lighting project work.

Later in the meeting, Corder also informed that he had gotten all the airport’s information updated on the FAA website, including outdated information such as lighting compliance, windsock and more.

“That should start slowly rolling out,” he said. “And pilots should have access to that information.”

Reporting on Old Business, Ambrozaitis said the survey work was complete, but awaiting some documents. He also noted awaiting a call from CW3 Robert Jeannotte to learn when the Michigan Army National Guard would be doing their IRT [Innovative Readiness Training] input.

New Business started off with the field’s segmented circle, which is simply a circular pattern of what Ambrozaitis described as “tiki huts” that surround the windsock and make the windsock location more readily identifiable to pilots. He and Corder will visit 48D in Clare to measure and create a materials list, then take on that project later this spring.

Next was the MDOT Grant Opportunity for FY 2026, which was announced the previous Thursday to include $5 million for the program. The categories are: Capital Development, Revenue Generating, Equipment Procurement, and Maintenance.

“Because we don’t receive federal money, this is our state money, this is our one chance to put in for some grants,” Ambrozaitis said. This time the project timeline is stiff: the notification was sent out March 19 and applicants have until 5 p.m. Friday, May 1 to have project grant requests in to MDOT. “All those will then be rack and stacked, reviewed, and then put forward to the Michigan Aeronautics Commission for their approval on Wednesday, May 20 – which is their next scheduled MAC meeting after the April one.”

He said sponsor contracts would have to be executed in June, projects start June, projects closed out and completed by Sept. 30, 2026 – a very fast turnaround. The previous projects started in May and went until Dec. 31, with an extension if needed.

“This year there is no extension available,” Ambrozaitis said. “Either you get it done or you don’t – if you don’t, what they said is be prepared to pay for it yourself.”

The first of the grant opportunities being applied for will be for power to the hangars and future development to the west. With that in mind, Ambrozaitis and Corder had met two weeks prior with Deanna Russell, a project engineer with Consumers Energy, who will provide an estimate for putting in power from B.R. 127 to the first row of hangars, under the taxiway, the second row of hangars, then prepare to go under the second taxiway to a potential third row of hangars or whatever other project is built to the west. This will allow for the power to be spider webbed out to the west and develop as needed.

Ambrozaitis further explained that last year’s grant program had asked for estimates, but that the swing downs between estimates and ensuing bids has led to this year’s requirement that estimates be skipped and only bids be submitted. He said the higher estimates had led to appropriated monies being tied up and unavailable, thus this year’s change.

The second grant request will be taxiways, and now Ambrozaitis and Corder would be meeting with the Clare County Road Commission to turn its previous estimates for taxiways paving into actual bids. There are four taxiways: A, B, C and Dl

The third grant request would be for Turf Runway 9/27 [again with assistance from the CCRC] to include scraping off the topsoil, leveling, putting refurbished topsoil back on it, hydroseeding, fertilizing the hydroseed. The estimate for that had been $36,000 and the need was to convert that to an actual cost bid.

The fourth grant request [annual maintenance] would be for crack sealing, something the state’s contractor does based on a requested linear feet of cracks. Last year, the crack seal work was done by estimates and an ordered number of pallets: work which did not take into account labor. This also was to be discussed with the road commission to see which will be the more cost effective method.

Under Upcoming Events, it was noted that the monthly morning food distribution at the Clare County Transit had been moved from the first Saturday of the month to April 11, which was also the scheduled time for the airport’s egg drop [billed as Egg-Stravaganza] for ages 12 and younger. When it was learned on March 24 there would be a conflict, times for the egg drop were adjusted as both events would be using Transportation Drive for access.

“It would have been an issue with 500 cars getting food at the Transit, and 500 kids coming to the airport for the egg drop,” Ambrozaitis said. “So, we had to deconflict it, and the solution was that we move our event to the afternoon.”

The new times for the egg hunt include: Registration begins at 1 p.m.; 2:15 p.m. for ages 0-4; 2:30 p.m. for ages 5-8; and 2:45 p.m. for ages 9-12. Participants are urged to allow enough time for arrival at the south gate entrance, parking and check-in, and to be ready 15 minutes prior to their age group’s scheduled egg hunt.

Under Public Comment, Hayes resident Pat Adams noted having distributed the updated Egg Drop flyer, and also announced he would be running for election to a seat on the Clare County Road Commission.

The Airport Committee will meet next at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 in the Board of Commissioners Room in the Clare County Building, 225 W. Main St. in Harrison.

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