Muskegon County Airport approves signage, engineering amendments and HVAC work; applies for joint air‑service grant

Muskegon County Airport officials updated the Transportation Services Committee on operations and secured approvals for multiple construction, engineering and procurement steps tied to the airport’s airfield and terminal projects.

Ken Epstein, airport director, told commissioners that Denver Air’s passenger counts rose in December and that the airline had not canceled flights since beginning service; an overnight delay occurred once when crew time limits prevented a same‑day return. Epstein said the terminal renovation has fallen several months behind schedule because of architectural, material and staffing issues but expects core work to wrap up in mid‑February, with finishing items to follow.

On airfield projects and procurements, the committee approved several staff recommendations and contract amendments. The committee accepted the lowest responsible bid for a grant‑funded airfield signage replacement project — $167,009.10 from Cortez and Sons — and authorized the board chair to sign related documents. The project is paid 95% by an FAA grant with an additional 2.5% contribution from the Michigan Department of Transportation; the county’s share was described in the motion as not to exceed $5,300 from the airport operating budget.

The committee also approved amendments to the airport’s engineering consultant contract for the $20.3 million Taxiway Alpha reconstruction project. Staff said the consultant (CMS Companies) will provide on-site construction administration, inspection and testing through the construction season; the fee increase was presented as part of standard project‑by‑project contract amendments. Separately, staff approved an amendment to the consultant contract to provide construction administration and testing for the airfield signage replacement.

Epstein said the airport received two new electric pickup trucks (Ford F‑150 Lightning) and that chargers are installed and operational. He also reported that a checkpoint X‑ray machine remains out of service; attorneys and the TSA are engaged and the county has informed TSA it does not accept liability for repairs given the timing of the damage and claim process.

The committee approved a reallocation of $32,000 from a previously approved FY25 pavement crack‑sealing budget to solicit bids and fund replacement of the terminal’s main HVAC control system; staff described the controller failure as urgent and said the reallocation avoids requesting additional county funds. The committee also authorized staff to apply, jointly with the Manistee Blacker Airport Authority, for a Michigan Department of Transportation air service development grant to explore possible new service to Milwaukee and Green Bay; Epstein said a joint application strengthens the case by combining demand from two airports.

Why it matters: the approved bids and contract amendments move grant‑funded capital work forward and preserve airport operations by addressing an HVAC controller failure. The air service development grant application could seed service that, if carriers participate, would expand passenger options beyond ferry and highway travel.

Ending: The committee approved all motions on voice votes; the transcript records the motions passing but does not include roll‑call tallies in the record.