Delta County names Ashley Young airport manager; board authorizes negotiation of terms

The Delta County Board of Commissioners approved an offer to Ashley Young for the position of airport manager and authorized county leadership to negotiate employment terms, the board said at a special meeting April 21.

The advisory board recommended the appointment, and Commissioner Jensen said the advisory board "recommend[ed] to offer Ashley Young the position of airport manager." The board voted to move the recommendation forward and completed a roll call in favor of the appointment.

The hiring committee recommended a starting salary of $85,000, allowing Young to carry over vacation accrued in prior positions and permitting flexible time, according to remarks recorded in the meeting. Commissioners said Young had told them $85,000 was her preferred salary and that she had indicated that amount as firm.

Commissioners discussed how the proposed salary compares with the county’s previous airport manager, who was described in the meeting as having earned about $60,000, and with pay at peer small airports. One commissioner said local peer airports reported higher pay; meeting remarks cited Rhinelander and Pellston as comparators and noted consultants had advised $85,000 was on the low side for experienced candidates. The board did not adopt any additional pay policy during the meeting.

The meeting clarified the negotiation process: county administration will negotiate terms with the prospective manager, and the board chair will sign the final agreement. Commissioners said the administrator handles initial negotiation and the chair executes the agreement after terms are settled.

The board also agreed to hold an additional meeting to finalize hiring paperwork and next steps; the meeting record shows commissioners scheduling a meeting on the "fourth" at 9 a.m., and participants discussed coordinating calendars and ensuring Ashley Young’s availability for any ratification. The transcript does not make the month explicit in that exchange.

The board’s action was limited to approving the recommendation and authorizing negotiations; no final employment contract was executed at the April 21 meeting.

Commissioners asked staff to circulate an interim-administrator policy and related materials in the agenda packet before the follow-up meeting.

The board adjourned after handling the hiring motion and other items on the agenda.