By James Windell
At a meeting last week between residents whose property abuts the South Haven Regional Airport and Airport authorities, it was agreed that trees that were obstructing the landing at the airport could be trimmed – rather than chopped down.
That outcome pleased Lee and Linda Goldner as well as their neighbors. “Our meeting with Dan Sandborn, the Airport manager, and Luke and Mike from Treeworks, was handled very professionally and they seemed sincere about doing as little trimming as possible,” says Lee Goldner.
While this might not be the best solution for the airport, it does help to clear the way for full licensing of the airport.
Linda Goldner was at the meeting of the Airport Authority on Friday, January 9, 2026. The only item on the agenda was a proposal from TreeWorks, the company hired to trim and remove trees, for dealing with the trees obstructing the Part 77 approach surface at the airport.
Stephanie Ward, a representative from Mead & Hunt, the consulting firm that is working with the airport to remove obstructions that may be hazardous to flights coming and going from the airport, was on a speaker phone to update Airport Authority members about progress in the obstruction removal process.
Ward provided a context for the project by stating that there are six parcels with easements purchased by the airport in 2008 for tree removal. One of those parcels is now airport property, leaving three for the current project that belong to residents living near the airport.
She said that regular tree pruning has been required every three to five years, depending on growth rates. Recent LiDAR surveys (LiDAR is a remote‑sensing method that uses laser pulses; airports rely on them to create 3D models of runways) and airport layout plan updates have identified approximately 100 trees needing attention, with many previously pruned and some new growth now tall enough to require action. Ward said, however, that only one tree will be fully removed and ground out and that will be done through property owner consent; the rest will be pruned 10 feet below the approach surface to allow for regrowth while maintaining compliance.
She went on to say that TreeWorks will coordinate all work, using certified arborists and industry standards. But the need for ongoing maintenance is driven by federal grant assurances and recent inspection placing the airport under a provisional license until obstructions are cleared. Clearing three parcels now is a step toward full compliance, but another parcel still requires negotiation and won’t be addressed until late next fall or winter.
Ward reported that TreeWorks initially quoted a price of $115,000 for the project, although that amount has been refined to $94,360 for addressing 101 trees on three parcels, including debris removal and site restoration. “If 11 specific trees are not removed,” Ward said, “the cost could drop by around $7,500.”
She told the Airport Authority that funding options for this project include using the airport’s discretionary funds (which stands at over $200,000 currently), the local budget (about $70,000 budgeted for this project), or an MDOT aeronautics loan, which could be up to $100,000, covering 90% of the project, and repayable over 10 years with a modest interest rate.
Discussion by the Authority determined that the MDOT loan approval process can be expedited due to urgency, with possible payment availability by March or April of this year. It was also stated that TreeWorks is willing to accept partial immediate payment and wait for final payment.
Led by Chair Jonathan Woodhams, discussion by the Authority centered on cash flow management, timing of municipal payments, and balancing use of discretionary funds versus taking out a loan for part of the cost. Consensus of the Airport Authority leaned toward using budgeted funds and reserves now, while keeping the loan as a backup.
Members of the Authority acknowledged the frustration of repeated spending on tree maintenance, but they also recognized the necessary for this in order for compliance and continued operation.
A motion was made and unanimously passed to approve the TreeWorks quote for trimming as necessary across the three parcels.
“Of course, we know that this trimming process will have to be repeated in another few years,” concluded Goldner, “but we hope that whoever is doing it then will have the same attitude and concern for our trees.”
