Airport complaints grow as BOC passes budget

By Genine Hopkins

At the September Clare County Board of Commissioners Meeting, the new 2027 Budget was passed with a few notable changes. While savings were made in both IT expenditures and health insurance, an increase in the budget for the Clare County Airport located in Hayes Township was a sore spot for several of the BOC members.
Savings was noted in a change of IT provider services. While Josh Chapman is the on-site IT specialist, outside services will now be provided by Karhu Cyber of Brighton, Michigan, saving the county half of what it had been paying.
The County also switched from Priority Health to Blue Cross/Blue Shield for its health insurance, again, finding not only initial savings but also a guarantee that pricing would not increase more than 12% over the next two years.
But the Clare County Airport has been a point of contention for some in the community for awhile now. The airport budget was increased by $15,500 over last year, leaving some board members feeling that money could be better allocated elsewhere. The general sentiment among those who don’t support increased and continual financial investment in the airport is that there is not enough in return for the surrounding communities including Harrison, Hayes Township, etc. Many feel there just aren’t enough visitors to the airport to justify continued investment. Still, there is enough support for the airport that the budget increase passed. Some township boards have also made their voices heard in their support of having an airport in the county seat area.
Clare County Commissioner David Hoefling told The Review that he fully supports the Clare County Airport.
“The airport can do a lot it can do for the community and bring in a lot of new business opportunities,” he said, “but we need to market it better. Our hangar rentals all are full, and despite still needing a good deal of work – which the recently approved $32,953.91 MDOT-AERO grant and budget increase will help with this year – it is a sound investment. It has been neglected for far too long.”
The grant has provided the airport with a new LED beacon light as the old beacon light was so outdated there were not bulbs available for replacement. The new light is not only an update, but will save the county money in less use of electricity and needing replacement less often, but also in safety since its longer lasting bulb won’t require workers to replace it as often.
Two more notable items were discussed during the meeting, including the Clare County Sheriff’s Department receipt of a grant for “live” fingerprinting that can be done in the field in the amount of $9,698, and the retirement of Clare County Drain Commission staff worker Colleen Ritchie on September 30th of this year. Ritchie will be replaced by Dusty Merritt.