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Airport seeks county support for aviation maintenance school, new lease and terminal upgrades
Summary
Airport staff asked the committee to forward a resolution supporting an Aviation Maintenance Technician School, recommend a five-year lease for Flagship Private Air and request a local match for terminal building upgrades; the committee forwarded all three items to the full board unanimously.
Jackson County airport staff asked the committee to forward a trio of items to the full board: a resolution supporting a proposed Aviation Maintenance Technician School, a five-year lease for a private jet-charter company and a recommendation to approve terminal building improvements that rely on a federal grant and require a local match.
Aviation maintenance school Airport staff described a proposed Aviation Maintenance Technician School to train eleventh- and twelfth-grade students and adult students seeking certification. The initial phase would occupy a corporate hangar for 15–20 students; longer-term expansion would depend on private fundraising. Staff asked the county to adopt a resolution of support to accompany grant applications and directed it to Senator Peters and Congressman Walberg. Committee members noted there is no county cost for the resolution; the motion to forward was unanimous.
Flagship Private Air lease Airport staff presented a five-year lease request from Flagship Private Air, a charter operator seeking to relocate from Willow Run to Jackson County. The company would lease two offices in the control tower building. The committee voted unanimously to forward the lease to the full board with a recommendation of approval.
Terminal building improvements Staff also requested approval to proceed with terminal-building rehabilitation. The project traces to a 2023 federal appropriation (presenter referenced $2,000,000) and a construction low bid shown in the staff packet (about $2,621,618). Staff asked the county to provide a local share of $315,133 to allow completion of alternates 1–3 (windows/doors, boilers, roof and interior updates). Presenter explained the total project approaches $3 million when prior design, scoping and ineligible-scope costs are included. The committee voted unanimously to forward the funding recommendation to the full board.
Why it matters: Approved improvements and new tenants affect airport operations, local workforce training pathways and economic development. The maintenance school aims to address a national shortage of certified aircraft mechanics; staff said about 4,000 mechanics are needed nationally each year. The terminal project would replace aging systems (one boiler nearing failure, windows and roof replacement) and seek to restore the terminal as a community “showpiece.”
Ending: The committee forwarded each airport item to the full board with recommendations; the airport director will follow up with grant and contract documentation for the board's consideration.
