Airport hangar will house four planes, completion set for the spring
Members of the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners following the recommendation of the airport committee, approved construction of a four-plane hangar at the Presque Isle County Airport in Rogers City. But the option of expanding the building in the coming years will very much remain open. Rogers City contractor Lee’s Ready Mix was to pour the slab for a 52-foot by 190-foot building designed for eight planes. But because of the increasing cost of materials and labor, the board had to downsize the structure. Construction of the new building will occur on half of the cement pad, while the other half of the concrete will be preserved for future expansion.
“THE AIRPORT MANAGER preferred we go with an eight-plane hangar, but to do that, we are looking at approximately $197,000 and we don’t have that in the budget,” said committee chair Bob Schell. “We can do a four place hangar with the $100,000 bequest to the county and the $35,000 loan.” The bequest is from the estate of Elmer and Margaret Radka, while the loan is from the county board. “At this time, I think it’s more practical to put what we can afford to build there,” said Schell.
Chairman Allan Bruder asked Schell what his projection might be for building the extra space onto the Rogers City hangar.
“IF WE RENT the four-place, we have to repay the $35,000 that the county put in the airport fund,” said Schell. “Our projection was that in four years we could repay that $35,000.” Schell said when the hangar is constructed there will be more requests for space rental. He said if there is more commitment then they’ll consider expanding. At the present, there are three commitments for the four-plane hangar.
“When we do this in pieces, we automatically know that it’s going to cost us more money to do it,” said Bruder. Schell agreed, saying there will be additional costs and price increases that will have to be dealt with down the line. “I would like to stay within budget with the finances being what they are, and w
WITH MORE improvements on tap for the airport in Rogers City, Schell would like to see attention turned to the Leo Goetz Airport in Onaway, his home district. “Several years ago, we started with improvements to the county airport in Rogers City, but we realized we have another county airport on the west end of the county,” Schell said. “We made the comment that by accepting all of this grant money on this airport, it would free up some money to take care of our airport on the west end of the county. We haven’t done much.”
The board unanimously approved a motion to accept the price of contractor Fulfab for the materials ($65,650) and erection ($19,600) of the hangar building. Approval also was given for sewer and water hookup. The building will go up in the spring.