The Barry County Commission Tuesday recommended a one-time $15,000 payment to the Michigan Department of Transportation Bureau of Aeronautics to certify the Precision Approach Path Indicator lighting approach equipment at the City of Hastings Barry County Airport.
Airport Manager Mark Noteboom said the MDOT recently implemented the fee, and it if isn’t paid in advance, they will not certify the system. If they don’t have the certification, the lights would be turned off. “So, it’s very important that we have this,” he said. The Hastings Airport Board has recommended approval. The Hastings City Council must also approve the expenditure as part of the Joint Operating Agreement with the county.
The commission also recommended approval of several citizens to county boards:
*Agricultural Promotion Board: Bob Vanderboegh to the agricultural interest seat for three years, and Vern Jenks to the natural resources conservation seat for the remainder of a term that expires 12/31/2018.
*Animal Shelter Advisory Board: Tim McGavin in the citizen at large seat for the remainder of term that ends 12-31-18
*Charlton Park & Museum Board: Colleen Acker and Robert Spaulding to citizens at large seats for three year terms.
*Community Corrections Advisory Board: Carrie Larabee in the communications/media seat for a three year term.
*Parks & Recreation Board: Don Hutchens and Vern Jenks for citizen at large seats, Hutchens for a three year term, Jenks for the remainder of a term expiring 12/31/18.
Also, Planning Director Jim McManus told commissioners that the planning commission recommended denial of a text amendment to the county ordinance requested by Lucas Spoor that would change the zoning in the ordinance to allow marinas in all mixed-use zones.
The commissioners sent the matter to the full board with a unanimous recommendation for denial.
Geiger, who sits on the planning commission, said Spoor applied for the amendment in a request that was 10 words long, and two of the words were his name. He said the request was insufficient to recommend approval…and that, along with other issues, the text amendment was not supported (by the planning commission).
