Airport adds hangar facility to plans

By TOM LAVENTURE

tlaventure@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood Township — The Gogebic-Iron County Airport on Monday approved long-term planning for a combination of facilities in the area of the main terminal for efficiency and to accommodate growth.

The board 4-0 approved adding the project to the airport layout plan as prepared by the airport’s engineering firm, Mead & Hunt. Airport board member Dan Siirila was not present.

The plan includes multiple versions of a general aviation joint use facility that would relocate buildings to consolidate commercial and general aviation in the area of the terminal building along with administration, maintenance and operations, said Michael Harma, airport manager. Board approval to include the project in the layout plan is the next step and does not commit the airport to completing the project.

“We think this is a great idea. It seems to be the best spot at the airport for this facility,” Harma said. “But, in order to be considered for any kind of funding, in the future this needs to be on our master drawing.”

In related business, the board approved the addition of an airport terminal parking lot expansion within the layout plan. The project would start this fall in preparation of increased passenger capacity with commercial jet service, should Denver Air Connection, Inc., be approved as the next Essential Air Service provider by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The board approved Harma’s request to seek estimates on the project that would double the current 40 car spaces to 80 spaces by expanding into 50,000 square-feet of airport-owned property that is currently a hay field. The lot would use milling from existing lots for the first year and electrical lines will be placed for lighting.

“We are looking at labor and equipment costs since we have the materials,” Harma said.

In a related action, the board approved Harma’s request to seek bids on a project to expand the passenger area of the terminal from 18 seats to around 30 seats. The work would shift the current Air Traffic Organization office of the Federal Aviation Administration to another area of the terminal building to expand the passenger area.

The board approved a request from Harma to negotiate prices for a used broom truck. The truck will be used for two years until a new broom truck is ordered and built to specifications.

The broom truck has been on the airport priority list for eight years, Harma said. It is needed to remove the light snow that causes ice when temperatures fluctuate during the day.

“Jets do not want to land on snow,” Harma said, adding that the speed of landing requires more runway and with less braking action in inclement weather. If there is a determination of 30% ice on the runway, that is considered a risk for jets. A broom can help remove that snow before it turns to ice.

The board approved Harma’s request for an on-call seasonal hire employee. The employee will be paid hourly and without benefits.

The employee will help reduce overtime to the four full-time staff from being on call for snow removal in the winter or cutting brush in the summer, Harma said. The need to stay on top of snow removal more frequently for jet service is also a part of the need, he said.

Harma presented the annual appropriations request that is due to be approved in September. He is requesting the same appropriation as the past eight years with the exception of payroll increases.

The board approved a $36,400 low bid to replace two sliding doors with folding doors on hangar No. 5. The project is expected to be completed before October.

In the manager’s report, Harma said the phase two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) investigation is expected to be finalized this week and a report will be presented on drilling locations and other work at the September board meeting. The second round of testing follows the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team discovery of trace amounts of PFAS earlier this year in areas of airport property and the surrounding area.

The airport will receive $32,000 in federal American Rescue Plan funding, he said. The funds will be available through the state of Michigan at some point.