Airport Study: Build Full Aviation Service Center

Near the start of an action packed agenda on Tuesday, May 29, Marinette County Board was joined by Menominee County Board and the Twin County Airport Commission for the enthusiastic unveiling of plans to develop the jointly owned airport into a training center for pilots and hub for maintenance and repair services for rotary and fixed wing aircraft.

The report and plans for development of the “Twin Services” concept were presented by Christian Perreault, head of Explorer Solutions of Canada, which was contracted by the Airport Commission nearly a year ago to explore ways to make the airport in Menominee self supporting and add economic benefit to the twin counties that own it. Target is to find required funding and begin project operations between April and December of 2013.

The hour-long explanation of opportunities unveiled by the Phase I studies was well received by the board. Each county will eventually be asked to contribute its share of the Phase 2 costs, but no action was taken or requested in connection with the report.

Members of the Twin County Commission and Menominee County Board were introduced by Supervisor Nick Lakari, who, along with Supervisor Ted Sauve, represent Marinette County on the Commission. Nancy Douglas, head of the Menominee County Economic Development Corporation, had served as the main liaison between Perreault and the Twin County Task Force appointed to work with him.

Perreault explained the concept of an aviation services niche market for the airport has a head start, as “a well known helicopter manufacturer” (Enstrom) already has its home there and provides maintenance, training and parts for its clients.

In phase II, Perreault is to devise a business plan and contact businesses he thinks may be interested in opening branches at Menominee. He said Twin County Airport has two very nice runways that are long enough to handle most privately owned aircraft, including about two thirds of the business jets used in this country. There are approximately 40,000 privately owned aircraft in Wisconsin, Michigan and the adjoining five states, and they all need to be painted, refurbished and thoroughly inspected, generally on a 5-year location. At least 25 pilot schools operate within the neighboring five states, and Perreault suggested one of them could be convinced to open a training center at Menominee.

Goal is to make the airport a year round destination that contributes to the prosperity of the area it serves. There were several comments that in the past there have been many ideas and suggestions, but thinks it is the first time anyone has laid out a plan to bring them to reality.

Business of the day began for Marinette County Board with a public hearing on a proposed application for a $120,000 Community Development Block Grant for Economic Development (CDBG-ED) application. The money, if the application is successful, will be loaned to Vargo Tool to partly finance construction of a new manufacturing plant in Peshtigo. UWEX Community Development Agent Paul Putnam said building the new facility will help retain 13 full time jobs in the community and add a dozen new ones. More information can be obtained in the office of Marinette County Clerk Kathy Brandt, where public comments related to the grant project will be accepted for the next 15 days. Another public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 13 in the courthouse. Putnam explained if the application is successful, the money will be loaned to Vargo Tool, and go into the county’s CDBG revolving loan fund as it is repaid. The board later unanimously adopted a Citizen Participation Plan as part of the grant process, and formally agreed to apply for the grant.

In its only divided vote of the day, County Board by a 17 to 12 margin approved an ordinance change that allows ATV traffic on three eighths of a mile of County V between Lanfear Road and Grant Street in Amberg as recommended by the Highway Committee. Considerable debate preceded the vote. Highway Committee Chair Russ Bousley explained the small stretch on County V allows the vehicles to access businesses in Amberg and gives access to other portions of the county trail system.

Supervisor Al Sauld, who also is Niagara Town Chair, strongly opposed the ordinance change again this month as he had opposed previous attempts to allow ATVs on small portions of the county highway system in and near Niagara. He cited dangers he believes the vehicles cause on roadways with regular vehicles, and said 12-year-olds can legally drive their ATVs on the road if it is part of the trail system. He said there is a snowmobile bridge nearby, and wondered why the ATVs cannot be allowed on that trail.

Supervisor Al Mans disagreed. He said by state law anyone driving an ATV on a road must be at least 16 years old. Anyone under age 18 must wear a helmet, and have taken an ATV safety course. He said the ATVs are important contributors to the local economy and access is important to businesses in the community.

Supervisor Connie Seefeldt was among those opposed. She spoke strongly against allowing ATVs on any county roads, citing a Highway Traffic Safety Committee recommendation against it, and said enforcement will cause more work for the Sheriff’s Department and probably lead to a request for more officers.

Corporation Counsel Gale Mattison, speaking as a resident of Amberg and not in her official capacity, said Town Chair Matt Mattison had told her he has heard no objections to the trail designation, and he personally would like to see the popular recreational vehicles get into their businesses. All town roads in Amberg are open to ATVs.

Supervisor Ken Keller said they must use common sense, and when only a short distance is needed to connect trails or allow reaching desired destinations without trailering the vehicles they should make it happen. As an example he cited access to the Bay allowed through the city.

Supervisor Ken Mattison, who represents the Amberg area on County Board, said their goal is to promote tourism, and if they cannot connect to the rest of the county trail systems the routes in Amberg are not much good.

One problem cited with use of snowmobile trails is that some are open only in winter when wetlands are frozen over, and travel in summertime is prohibited by DNR regulations.

Sauld asked Sheriff Jerry Sauve to address the issue, and he was somewhat noncommittal. When it comes to ATVs, he said, “The genie is out of the bottle.” He said from a law enforcement perspective, allowing them on roads “does up the odds something bad will happen,” and cited the difficulties of trying to keep track of where they are legal on roadways and where they are not.

Recommendation for the ordinance change had come from the Highway Committee, and Committee Chair Bousley said when deciding whether or not to approve a trail request they look at options available to access the community. In this case there seems to be no other options.

After a number of comments about the noise of ATVs disturbing home owners when they pass by, Supervisor Mattison pointed out the piece of road is only a third of a mile and goes past no homes.

Supervisor Joe Policello, who is also Middle Inlet Town Chair, said his town 10 years ago legalized ATVs on all their town roads, and he has not had a single complaint. He admitted 12-year-olds do drive their ATVs on the roads, although their town ordinance specifies the drivers must be at least 16 years old.

Voting in favor were supervisors Joe Banaszak, Mike Behnke, Bousley, Ken Casper, Mike Cassidy, Robert Holley, Keller, Lakari, Mans, Mattison, Larry Nichols, Policello, Ted Sauve, Bill Walker, Kathy Just, Clancy Whiting and Board Chair Vilas Schroeder. Those opposed were CJ Barrette, Alice Baumgarten, Russ Bauer, Melissa Christiansen, Gilbert Engel, Paul Gustafson, Shirley Kaufman, Tom Mailand, Don Pazynski, Sauld, Seefeldt and Cheryl Wruk. Mel Sharpe was absent.

The morning began with public comments by Seefeldt, who reported as a member of the county’s employee Wellness Committee that the 59 Marinette County employees who participated in a recent Corporate Challenge program at the YMCA in Menominee took second place in competitions entered by teams representing eight area corporations. She pointed out that the Wellness program is aimed at encouraging better health for employees and their families which in turn will reduce health care costs for the county.

As a representative of the state and national Milk Marketing Boards, Seefeldt invited everyone to attend June Dairy Month Breakfast on the Farm events - Sunday, June 24 at the Ed and Julie Nowak Farm in Marinette County and Sunday, June 10, on the O’Harrow Family Farm, LLC in Oconto County.

After an explanation by Cassidy of why it is needed, the board unanimously agreed to join the Northwoods Rail Commission, and confirmed appointment of Cassidy and Kaufman as members representing Marinette County.

Supervisor Baumgarten was concerned that some towns may have problems with ownership of road right of way, as many were transferred from railroad to town ownership without any documented paperwork. Cassidy said the purpose is not to cause problems over any old rail right of way, but to prevent this segment from having the tracks removed and becoming part of the “Rail to Trail” system. He said they want the Canadian National Railroad to run trains from Goodman to Rhinelander. He said rail transport is extremely important to the economic future of northern Wisconsin, as well as Michigan and Canada. He said the Goodman Mill and the mine at Pembine uses rail transport heavily. The east/west rail line referred to is not to be confused with the north/south E&LS line, which is also seeking to upgrade its service through Marinette County.

The board approved appointment of Schroeder and Wruk to the Bay Area Local Elected Officials Board.

County Administrator Ellen Sorensen recommended appointment of Mary Rosner, Lt. Doug Erdmann and Lisa Schramm to the Local Emergency Planning committee, with Sgt. Joe Nault and Brian Kallestad as alternates; Health and Human Services Committee Chair Just to the Northeast Wisconsin Long-Term Care District Board; Rosemary Nowak to the Elderly Services Board, and Kevin Solway and City of Marinette Police Chief John Mabry to the 911 User Committee. All were approved by the board.

With very little discussion, the board approved a Finance Committee recommendation to allow purchases of up to $5,000 without a purchase order provided the purchase is within the department budget.

As recommended by the Land Information Committee, the board approved a Town of Grover ordinance regulating sale of fireworks in the town, and accepted an $11,400 bid from Straight Line Fence of Wittenberg for the Polzin wildlife fencing project.

Creation of a new ADRC Supervisor position in the Department of Health and Human Services was approved after recommendations from both the parent and personnel committees.

Also approved was the addition of two new full time jail worker positions for the Sheriff’s Department that will replace three part-time positions that had been funded by a federal grant.

The board approved numerous projects and purchases as recommended by the parent committees and approved for funding by the Finance Committee. Many of the expenditures involved transfer of funds from Contingency.

To a question from Gustafson, Finance Director Pat Kass said after all transfers for the day, including $64,850 for purchase and installation of two boilers and related duct work for the courthouse the fund has $312,000 remaining. Contract with Valley Mechanical for the boilers was approved subject to review by Corporation counsel.

The board approved entering an agreement for $92,480 with Kulps of Stratford for replacement of a portion of the roof at UW-Marinette, also subject to contract review.

Highway Committee motions approved included:

Crushing of waste materials by Iron City Enterprises at all three County Highway shops in the amount of $2.48 per ton, with an estimated total of $33,480;

Purchase of liquid asphalt for seal coating for $184,050 for the 2012 season from Henry G. Miegs, LLC;

Signing of WisDOT’s Discretionary Traffic Maintenance Agreement totaling $84,235 for centerline and edge line pavement markings;

Per contract, a price adjustment from Northeast Asphalt for an estimated 22,000 tons of asphalt, bringing the cost to $1,013,950 for the 2012 construction season.

Purchase of two hot patchers, without compressors, from Sherwin Industries for a total of $45,660 with payment upon delivery was approved. Bousley explained they need two because of the amount of patching that must be done each spring. Whiting asked if there is a way towns can rent the machines, and Bousley said they would also need to hire a man to operate it. Behnke said the City of Peshtigo does that, but they also supply a man from the city crew to help with the work, which helps keep costs down.

A proposal from BayCom to upgrade the Highway Department radio system to include simulcast repeaters on the Pembine and Goodman towers for a cost of $25,798; and

Purchase of a 2012 Caterpillar M318D rubber wheeled excavator from FABCO for a net price of $186,159 after trade-in allowance of $66,000 for trade-in of a 2006 excavator.

Approved on recommendation of the Finance Committee were:

A one-year contract for $25,800 with Associated Financial Group to provide healthcare consultant services;

A one-year agreement with Profound Solutions, Inc., for information technology consulting services;

A time and material contract not to exceed $30,000 with Cost Control Associates, Inc., for telephone audit and cost reduction recommendations, on which Christianson cast the sole “no” vote;

Transfer of $36,192.78 from the Jail Assessment Fund to cover purchase and installation of an HVAC heat wheel for the Law Enforcement Center;

On recommendation of the Forestry Committee the board approved:

A lease agreement with Northeast Asphalt allowing them to purchase gravel and fill from the county’s Spike Horn Lane pit for municipal projects only, at $1.50 per yard;

*Transfers of tax deed parcels to the towns of Grover, Middle Inlet and Niagara, as well as a small parcel in the City of Niagara, and a property in the City of Marinette on which the city has placed a $75,000 demolition assessment lien. All the transfers are subject to the municipality paying the associated recording fees. Most of the properties involved are located in whole or in part on existing roads.

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