Signage at Ford Airport in Dickinson County is seen. (Iron Mountain Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County plans to add another large hangar at Ford Airport, expecting to lease it to a company that wants to base a private jet there.

The county board Monday authorized Controller Brian Bousley to prepare a request for proposals. There was little discussion, though minutes from a March 30 finance meeting state it will be a 2024 summer project.

Bousley said the hangar will measure about 16,800 square feet, perhaps slightly larger than the 16,000-square-foot hanger completed this year by Gundlach Champion of Iron Mountain at the airport’s south perimeter.

A $1.28 million construction contract for the first hangar was awarded in June 2021, but the project was delayed to await steel delivery in spring 2022. In December, the county used federal American Rescue Plan funds to pay off a $747,443 project loan secured from First National Bank & Trust of Iron Mountain.

On Monday, Bousley informed the board he expects the county can be reimbursed for that payoff, likely through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, providing about $750,000 in “seed money” for the new hangar.

The latest project is for a private hangar, while the previous work serves a mix of commercial and public uses. Much of the completed hanger will be leased and the county is finishing the interior to provide offices for its own use. The building also hosts “The Silver Dragon,” an A-26 Invader Word War II bomber owned by Vincent Quadrini of Kingsford.

For the new hangar, a letter of intent has been discussed that entails a 30-year commitment from the lessee at five-year increments, Bousley said.

In other action Monday, the county board:

≤ Heard Bousley report Ford Airport had 4,069 boardings on SkyWest Airlines flights from January through March. In 2022, there were 20,600 passenger boardings on SkyWest’s Delta Connection flights, only slightly below the record of 22,980 set in 2019. Delta recently recognized the Ford Airport team as its Station of the Year, one of only two in its size category to be honored nationwide. Criteria for the award includes customer service, customer comments, baggage claims and handling, and on-time departures, according to a March 27 resolution approved by the board saluting the Delta employees.

≤ Received a letter from state Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock, congratulating and thanking Airport Manager Tim Howen and all airport staff for their service to the community.

≤ Received an update from Bousley on the medical examiner facility at the airport, which is on track to open in May. The county plans to offer autopsy services to counties throughout the region. The county’s 2023 budget estimated $90,000 for the medical examiner’s salary and benefits, plus $27,500 for support staff and contracted services, and $12,500 for transports. The county is using about $100,000 in ARP funds to build and equip the facility.