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Midland advances airport obstruction removal; ARPA funds shifted to replace aging underground fuel tanks
Summary
City staff reported completion of Phase 1 tree clearing at Midland airport and outlined a multi‑phase plan requiring navigation easements for off‑airport parcels. Council was briefed on ARPA‑funded projects including a $127,000 design for an above‑ground fuel system and an estimated $500,000–$600,000 construction cost to replace two aging underground tanks.
City staff told the Midland City Council on Oct. 27 that tree clearing around the airport has begun as part of a multi‑phase effort to comply with state licensing and FAA obstruction standards. Stephanie Ward of consulting firm Mead & Hunt said Phase 1 has been completed with 32 acres cleared — 25 acres of upland cleared and grubbed, and 7 acres in wetlands kept with reduced disturbance after consultation with EGLE.
Airport Manager Sarah Pagano said the city allocated $850,000 in ARPA funds to airport projects this year and has adjusted priorities after finding two Jet‑A underground tanks installed in 1999 were nearing the end of their useful life. "The main source of revenue for the airport is our fuel," Pagano said, arguing the city should protect that revenue stream by replacing the oldest tanks with an above‑ground system.
Pagano said the fuel‑system design work is under way at a cost of $127,000 and that construction of an above‑ground fuel system is estimated between $500,000 and $600,000. The plan is to remove the two older underground tanks and replace them with a single above‑ground Jet‑A tank; a third tank and pump installed in 2009 will remain underground until end of life. The move is aimed at lowering monitoring and environmental costs and addressing insurance and leakage risks reportedly higher for underground tanks.
Ward described the phased tree removal: Phase 1 (airport property west of Sturgeon Road) is wrapping up with a final walkthrough scheduled; Phase 2 covers an additional 9 acres on airport and city property west of Eastman Road (about $160,000 budgeted); Phase 3 will require securing navigation easements on mainly residential off‑airport parcels south of US‑10 before removal can occur. Ward said EGLE reviewed Phase 1 and was complimentary of the approach to forested wetlands.
Pagano told council that replacing underground tanks with above‑ground tanks reduces the complexity of leak‑detection monitoring and that secondary containment will be installed around above‑ground tanks to capture any leak. She said the city prefers to use ARPA funds for the fuel project rather than federal entitlement funds, reasoning that using federal funds for a revenue‑generating project could limit future eligible uses of federal dollars for non‑revenue projects such as pavement repairs.
Council members asked about security, costs, and whether the airport charges landing fees; Pagano said the airport collects tie‑down fees (sometimes waived with fuel purchase) but does not charge landing fees to avoid deterring general aviation traffic. Staff said construction is being sequenced with pavement and other projects to protect runway length and function.
The presentation closed with staff saying land purchases and easement acquisition will continue and further updates will be provided as phases progress.
