Morrow County commissioners approve minutes, fund transfers; staff seeks federal pre-application for airport instrument approach

The Morrow County Board of Commissioners on March 30 approved routine minutes and several fund transfers, voted to appropriate certified monies to the Job and Family Services fund, and heard county staff report that a federal pre-application to qualify the county airport for a straight instrument approach was submitted to meet a same-day deadline.

The approvals came early in the meeting: the board voted to approve the minutes of the regular session of March 26, 2025. Commissioners indicated unanimous support when roll was called. The board then approved an appropriation of unappropriated certified monies to the Job and Family Services fund to account for payments from Chesterville, Jonesville, Caravan and local customers and a payment for April rent from Job and Family Services. The board also approved a transfer of funds for an individual fund (details in minutes). Each motion was moved and seconded and carried when the board members were polled.

County staff updated commissioners on airport work and grant closeouts. A county staff member said the county submitted a federal pre-application “to see, from the federal level, that we want to just pay for” runway work and to qualify the airport for a straight instrument approach. The staff member said the county needs a new survey because “the original policy has expired” and that the pre-application deadline was the same day: “So today's deadline, we need that pre happen. Today. So we got started. I did it last week.” The staff member said the pre-application would start a three-year period for completing survey and clearing approach obstacles and that, if approved, the work would include clearing trees and confirming property/take easements as part of meeting the federal program’s requirements.

The board also heard that the county completed final closeout work for an “auto builds” grant. The staff member described the award as “a $2,070,000 grant towards the local” project and said staff worked with “Michelle at Heimfelter” to submit the final draw; that closeout should produce a final payment of about $5,000. The staff member said the county expects engineering deliverables later in the day to confirm equipment additions needed to make the related plant operate as intended.

Separately, a commissioner noted a new wind indicator device at the airport — described in the record as “Windstock” — had been repositioned and that the county had been cited on prior inspections where the device or its covers were missing; the move and other actions are intended to address FAA inspection and safety concerns.

After the airport and grant updates the board recessed and later returned to regular session and concluded the meeting. No ordinances or appointments were adopted at this session.

Votes at a glance: Approved — Minutes of 03/26/2025 (motion carried); Appropriation of certified monies to Job and Family Services fund (motion carried); Transfer of funds for individual fund (motion carried); Motion to recess and to return to session (motions carried). Specific motion language and vote tallies are recorded in the official minutes.