BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved signing paperwork for the $1,176,000 summer airport taxiway project.
The west end of the parallel taxiway will be constructed, the second half of the project at the Gogebic-Iron Airport.
Commissioners agreed to sign the contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration.
It is hoped the project will begin by July 6.
The FAA is paying the bulk of the project’s cost, at $1,116,250. MDOT’s share will be $29,375 and the local share, split between airport partners Gogebic and Iron County, Wis., will also be $29,375.
“It seems like we’re getting a lot for our $29,000,” said commissioner Ton Laabs, of Ironwood.
In other business Wednesday, the county board agreed to advance up to $35,000 to the 2015 Gogebic County Fair. Commissioner George Peterson, of Watersmeet, noted the county will be reimbursed the money after the fair.
County Board Chair Joe Bonovetz, of Bessemer, referred to it as a sort of no-interest cash advance.
The board also learned the two psychiatrists at Community Mental Health in Wakefield will be leaving at the end of August and a two-phase plan will be initiated to replace them, with some video-conferencing to be scheduled on a temporary basis.