Jackson County committee approves $30,000 transformer purchase to unlock hangar construction at county airport

The Jackson County Public Safety and Transportation Committee voted 3–1 to authorize purchase and installation of a pad‑mount transformer to extend primary power to the east side of Jackson County Airport, a project county staff and local hangar owners said is needed for several planned hangars.

Committee Chairman Corey Kennedy presided over the Dec. meeting where the airport and private hangar owners asked the committee to cover an upfront transformer expense that Consumers Energy requires before it will run primary service. "It’s about a $30,000 cost to bring a new pad mount transformer out to the east side of the airport," said Kevin Sparks, a pilot, hangar owner and member of the airport advisory committee, during public comment.

The committee majority said the purchase is a business investment to keep recent airport improvements productive. "We really need to purchase this transformer" said Juan (airport staff), who presented the airport’s rationale and asked the committee to authorize the county to pay for the transformer and installation and, if possible, to add a 2‑inch natural gas main for an additional $10,709. The airport manager said Consumers Energy’s reimbursement rule could return about $3,300 for each new hangar that connects over the following five years, but that reimbursement is contingent on future connections.

Why it matters: Committee members and airport presenters said the east side of the airport has been made build‑ready through recent county investments and that lack of proximate primary power is now blocking construction of privately financed hangars. Two private speakers recounted sunk costs: Andrew Schneider said he had invested several hundred thousand dollars into a hangar project but cannot finish or operate it because Consumers Energy will not run service the extra 100 feet to his building. "I'm literally a 100 foot further than what consumers can run me power," Schneider said.

Discussion and dissent: Commissioner Bair opposed using general fund money for the transformer, saying connecting utilities is normally a cost borne by the building owner and noting recent county budget reductions for the sheriff's office. "These costs are typical and are typically paid by the building owner wanting to build a new facility," Bair said. Supporters argued the county benefits from airport growth and that failure to act could send potential developers to competing airports.

Implementation, reimbursement and next steps: Presenters said the airport has applied for a state grant with a January decision and that, if awarded, the county would seek to be reimbursed. The airport manager said county policy from prior transformer purchases resulted in the county covering upfront costs and recovering amounts as new customers connect. The motion, made by Commissioner Duckham and supported by Commissioner Walls, carried on a roll‑call vote: Duckham — yes; Bair — no; Walls — yes; Chairman Kennedy — yes.

The committee record shows the vote authorizes staff to proceed with purchase and installation of the pad‑mount transformer and to include the optional 2‑inch gas main if funding allows. The county did not specify a definitive reimbursement schedule beyond the Consumers Energy rule described in the meeting, and the grant outcome was reported as pending.

The decision now moves to any required procurement steps and, if the state grant arrives in January, staff said they would pursue reimbursement options and adjust budgets accordingly.