Snider, during the commissioners’ Transportation Committee meeting July 16, held in the Montague City Hall council room, voted for several airport expenditures, but questioned the county’s continued general fund support of the airport which, he said, was about $1.2 to $1.3 million last year.

Snider is not only concerned about the current financial drain the airport has on the county general fund, but its future use and finances. “Every year we spend a lot of money on it,” he added. Delta (Northwest Airlink) offers three outbound and three inbound flights daily from Detroit this summer. There are just two flights on Saturday.

The June 2009 operations report for the airport did not have good news on flight activity. Commercial activity included 2,746 passengers on 290 flights in June, a 36-percent decline from a year earlier. General aviation flights saw a 5-percent decline from a year earlier. The only categories with increased use were itinerant with 6 percent and military with 24 percent.

There may be good news on the horizon for the Muskegon County Airport.

At the July 16 meeting, Airport Manager Marty Piette told the Transportation Committee that he is currently in negotiations with a commercial carrier to provide flight connections with Chicago. Piette said they are negotiating a 12-month agreement, and if it is successfully completed, will start with service in early 2010.

Also, the county commission has approved the revival of the Airport Advisory Committee which will allow citizen input on several airport issues, including expansion, funding, safety regulations, customer service, and marketing. The advisory committee is expected to have representatives from the general public, the private sector and airport business park tenants.

Expenditures approved by the Transportation Committee July 16, and which will be recommended to the County Commission for final approval are:

• The low bid for repainting the airfield surface for maintenance. The county’s share of the cost is 2.5% of the total, or $1,697. The low of four bids is $67,856.25. It was submitted by Kenmark, Inc. of Buckley, Michigan.

• The low bid for crack sealing of airfield surfaces. The county’s share of the cost is 2.5% or $960. The low bid of $38,400 was submitted by Fahrner Asphalt Sealers, Inc. of Plover, Wisconsin. There were seven bids.

• The purchase of a heavy duty runway broom truck for snow removal. The new truck will replace a 1998 truck which will be kept by the airport. The recommended low bid is $447,516 submitted by M-B Companies of Chilton, Wisconsin. The county’s cost is 2.5% or $11,188. There were two bids for the broom truck.

• The purchase of a utility tractor with several snow removal attachments to replace the 1993 tractor. The department recommended the second low bid of $128.587 submitted by Fredrickson Supply, LLC of Wyoming, Michigan. The county’s cost will be 2.5% or $3,215. The department recommended the second low bid because the low bid, submitted by M-B Companies of Chilton, Wisconsin, did not meet bid specifications. The estimated cost for the utility tractor was $170,000.

• The approval of a contract between the county and the Michigan Department of Transportation for the purchase of an aircraft fire fighting and rescue vehicle. The vehicle will be purchased 100% with American Recovery and Rehabilitation Act grant funds. The price of the vehicle is $668,000.