COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners voted during their work session Thursday to bring forward to next week’s meeting a $12,000 funding request from the Branch County Memorial Airport.
The airport requested a $30,000 allocation in August. Commissioners gave the airport half of the request with the understanding airport officials could come back and ask for another $15,000 to get through the rest of 2017.
County Administrator Bud Norman said the request covered funds to repair a heating system and for a tree clearing project. He also noted that there is enough money available in capital outlay/contingency funding. The Commissioners are expected to take final action next Tuesday on a motion that calls for the funding to not exceed $12,000.
The trees were encroaching the runways which caused the airport to be downgraded from their General Utility Rating; thus, they lost state and federal funds.
