Barry County airport board commits $80,000 to widen parallel taxiway to 35 feet
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Summary
The Barry County Committee of the Whole on Sept. 16 recommended the Board of Commissioners approve an $80,000 airport-board commitment to widen a parallel taxiway from 25 to 35 feet, a move airport officials say would allow larger aircraft and expand the airport's marketability.
On Sept. 16, 2025, the Barry County Board of Commissioners Committee of the Whole voted to recommend that the full board approve the airport commission's commitment of $80,000 to widen the Barry County Airport's parallel taxiway to 35 feet.
County and airport officials told the committee the additional width is intended to improve safety and allow larger aircraft to use the field. "It is a safety thing that also expands the airport's usability," said Gino, an airport staff member, describing the plan as part of a five-year airport development schedule. The Federal Aviation Administration will fund a 25-foot taxiway; the airport is asking to cover the extra 10 feet of asphalt with airport funds, officials said.
Airport staff estimated the incremental cost for the wider taxiway at about $80,000 if the county does the work alongside the FAA-funded project in 2027; they said doing the widening later as a separate project could cost roughly three times as much. "If we do it in conjunction with their program, we're basically paying for the asphalt," Gino said. He and other presenters said the extra width could help attract hangar construction and more operations.
Commissioner Tunnessen called acting now "common sense," saying adding the extra width during the planned project would avoid repeat environmental studies and other work. The committee also noted the City has already approved the project.
Motion by Tunnessen, support by Bassett, recommended that the Board of Commissioners approve, under the airport commission joint operating agreement, the airport board's $80,000 commitment to widen the parallel taxiway to 35 feet. The committee chair called for the ayes; the motion carried.
Airport staff said the project is currently scheduled for 2027 (work could slip into 2028) and that, if operations grow, future grant funding from state or federal sources could cover a larger share. Officials referenced Federal Aviation Administration guidance and Michigan Department of Transportation involvement in funding and planning for the project.
The airport manager also reminded commissioners of an airport open house and ribbon-cutting scheduled for Oct. 21 with public events and an official 3:30 p.m. ribbon-cutting.
What the committee approved was a recommendation to the full board; final authorization and any contracting will occur if and when the Barry County Board of Commissioners takes formal action.
