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County approves $50,000 to start Taxiway A design at Blacker Airport
Summary
Airport Director Miles Weaver asked the committee to approve $50,000 so geotechnical and topographic work can start before winter; committee recommended the request so design can proceed ahead of expected grant award timing.
Miles Weaver, Airport Director for Manistee County Blacker Airport, told the Ways & Means committee the airport needs $50,000 to begin design activities for Taxiway A (geotechnical and topographical work) before the ground freezes and before expected grant paperwork is finalized. The minutes record: "Mr. Weaver is requesting $50,000 in funds to start design activities on Taxiway A prior to Grant approval. It is ideal for geotechnical and topographical work to be complete before winter. Notification of the Congressionally Direct Spending Money should be late Fall, early Winter. Delaying this would push the work into the Winter. There is a limited window to spend the money once awarded."
Moved by Richard Schmidt and seconded by Chairperson Jeff Dontz, the committee recommended approval of the $50,000 request for airport design activities. The recommendation will allow the airport to begin consultant work (survey and geotechnical borings) so design can continue while awaiting federal/state funding decisions.
Why it matters: starting early on site investigation and preliminary design keeps the airport project on schedule and preserves construction windows. The project scope in the packet describes reconstruction/rehabilitation and lighting work for Taxiways A, C and F, and the airport estimates construction costs in the multi‑million dollar range; early design work helps position the project for grant or Congressionally Directed Spending funding.
