By Rosemary Horvath
Herald Correspondent
[private] Acquiring ownership of the Gratiot Community Airport has become no simple task.
After county government took steps to becoming the airport’s sole owner, the city of Alma has stepped up to possibly claim the prize.
This option surfaced unexpectedly when negotiations stalled at a recent planning session as Alma Mayor Greg Mapes wavered on turning over city-owned airport property to the county to seal the deal.
In light of Alma’s hesitation, County Commissioner Sam Smith suggested the county sell its share of the property to the city for it to become sole proprietor. Mapes reportedly embraced the suggestion, as did City Commissioner Michelle Pitts.
Mapes was expected to gauge interest among other city commissioners this week.
Alma City Manager Aeric Ripley stressed nothing has been settled, but as the former assistant city manager who spent years overseeing airport budgets and federal FFA grant applications, he added that the city “is doing its own due diligence of the operation as the sole operator of the airport.”
Also being questioned is whether it “would make sense for the city to take on the responsibility,” Ripley said.
Unlike the era of Total Refinery and other large Alma-based airport users, Ripley noted today pilots represent all areas of the county.
County Administrator Tracey Cordes, who sought out expertise of Mead & Hunt consultants in 2020 to evaluate airport operations, told The Herald that the city’s timeline for a decision is unknown.
Both county and city commissions may have a few new officeholders in the new year when decisions for airport ownership is settled, if not before.
Cordes said for the county to acquire ownership, it expected the city to relinquish its real property. She said it is critical that the county own all the land parcels, but that Mayor Mapes and Commissioner Pitts resisted the idea.
Until there is a change, the airport will remain under the airport authority jurisdiction composed of county, cities of Alma, St. Louis, and Ithaca, and townships of Pine River and Arcada.
Location of the 800-acre airport is between Alma and Ithaca on West Seaman Road in Arcada Township. Regardless of ownership, the airport facility will be a source for economic stability and growth, observers believe.
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