Harrison Area Pilots Association - Fly Harrison

Runway 5/23 Closure Motion Tabled to December

Clare County Cleaver

by DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY                                                          Monday, December 11, 2023 

Cleaver Staff Writer

HARRISON – The Nov. 27 Clare County Airport Committee meeting saw Commissioners Gabe Ambrozaitis and David Hoefling in attendance. Commissioner Rickie Fancon was absent, as was Administrator Lori Phelps.

Under Old Business was a painting grant which was submitted. Ambrozaitis said it had been received and so Airport 80D was “in the queue for next year for more crack sealing and more paint, which we didn’t get this year.”

Ambrozaitis explained that the crack sealing will not be the same as what the road commission had done, but rather the liquid used for small cracks.

“So, we’ll have to see if there are any cracks that are larger than 2 inches that require what the road commission did,” he said.

The steady, stealthy approach of winter has delayed the tackling of some planned airport projects, leading them to become spring projects. Those will include:

-Rotating Beacon Light Shed Repairs: Ambrozaitis noted the shed next to the beacon tower belongs to the airport and is in a state of disrepair. He said that shed will have to be addressed in the spring to ensure it is weather tight and can protect all the electronics and wiring it contains. Some of that wiring is for the outdoor warning siren, but it was stated by Rick Jones, Hayes Township supervisor, that the siren had been turned off in 2013.

-Windsock tower repair

-Repair of turf runways, and

-Installation of the new, wider gate near the Clare County Transit Corp. The price of $402 per each 16-foot sections was quoted by Nevill Farm Supply.

The first item under New Business was a motion to permanently close the diagonal runway (5/23) effective Nov. 30 for all aircraft landings and takeoffs. It was determined that the closure motion be tabled until the Dec. 18 Airport Committee meeting for a vote by all three commissioners.

When Jones questioned whether the Clare County Board of Commissioners would have to approve the runway closure, Ambrozaitis said he didn’t believe so as it was a financial decision, but would look into what procedure is required. After the meeting, he looked through the regulations and pointed out the BOC does need to be informed of the Airport Committee’s action, but that BOC approval of that action is not required.

The second New Business item dealt with the requirement for the airport plan for flight path obstruction mitigation at the end of Runway 18/36. Ambrozaitis said he and Gale Bensinger, airport manager, had surveyed all three properties where the MDOT-identified trees are located, and that all three property owners had agreed to allow the county to cut those trees at the county’s cost. He said the county attorney is drafting an agreement between the county and the homeowners which addresses specific trees, cleanup and costs.

“It’s just a written agreement with those three property owners,” Ambrozaitis said. “So, we just have to do the paperwork now. As well, we need some bids for tree trimming.”

He said there also had been a request for Waiver and Extension of the airport’s license, because the plan required by MDOT was due by Nov. 30. In the MDOT report was a mechanism enabling request of an extension and waiver, and both were requested, pending the motion to close Runway 5/23 and cutting of the trees. Ambrozaitis said he had asked for both closing of the runway and tree cutting, and had hoped for an answer from MDOT before Nov. 30.

He also voiced his intention to visit Jackie’s Airport Restaurant prior to the next meeting to learn what the restaurant owner’s plans are and discuss the future of the airport.

Ambrozaitis also noted being informed by Administrator Phelps that there had been no updates on the grants relative to the Pilot Flight Planning Center project, runway lights status, or new T-hangars.

“I did find out that a new set of T-hangars for 10 aircraft costs $1.5 million – that’s the going rate,” he said. “At least we know how much they cost – today. They’re not cheap.”

The tentative meeting schedule for 2024 was presented for review and will be submitted for approval at the December meeting.

Also attending was Dennis Mott who was seeking an updated lease for Hangar No. 4.

Area pilot Bob Ash gave a video presentation about the new Harrison Area Pilots Association website he has created, noting its various elements, including local information, a spot to subscribe to a newsletter, Airport 80D data, and a page listing upcoming events.

“The theme, thinking about this, was just to try to keep the community involved so the airport’s there,” Ash said. “It’s for everybody, not just for pilots.”

The presentation also included a video taken inside his plane with his grandson at the controls, and family members enjoying their ride. The website includes photos of the special views witnessed only from the flyer’s vantage point. It also includes airport associated stories and photos by the Clare County Cleaver which were previously published. Ash expressed his gratitude for such use being graciously granted by Angela Kellogg-Henry, the newspaper’s owner/managing editor.

Interested persons can visit https://HarrisonAPA.org to check out the new Harrison Area Pilots Association website.

During Public Comment near the end of the meeting, pilot Carl Lounsbury spoke first.

“For a long time, the county looked at the airport like it was a piece of glass, when actually it was a diamond in the rough,” he said. “And all they need to do is shine it up a little bit and it’ll pull in a lot of people. They eat. I don’t think a lot of people in the area know how much of a draw the Airport Restaurant is, but when the Coast Guard’s flying down from Traverse City almost every Sunday to eat – it’s a good draw.”

Dennis Mott echoed that sentiment, adding that it seems something worth investing in an effort in to keep it.

“As you said, it draws a lot of people to the area,” Mott said. “When you go by, there’s not many times there’s not customers.”

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