Acker named Michigan Airport Manager of the Year
Dick Acker, Manager of the Clare Municipal Airport, has been selected at the Michigan Association of Airport Executives (MAAE) Airport Manager for the State of Michigan.
Acker was honored at the Clare City Commission meeting Monday evening a presented with the MAAE award and the City’s Mayor’s Excellence Award.
Acker was chosen from airport managers all over the state, said City Manager Ken Hibl. “Dick was competing with the likes of airport managers of Lansing, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Traverse City, Marquette, Midland, Mt. Pleasant, Jackson and more. This is a big honor for us.”
Acker said to the Commission, “You folks, you make it all happen and I have to give a lot of credit to the Clare Pilot’s Association.”
Hibl also reported that an Open Forum has been scheduled September 29 to get public input on what should be done with the historic railroad depot. The meeting will be held at 7pm on Tuesday, September 29th at the Clare Public Safety Building (Clare Police
Department/Clare Fire Hall) to discuss these and other matters related to the depot.
Larry Lewis, president of the Clare Depot Preservation Group said the city has been looking for a new location for the old depot for the past three years.
The Tri-R Hotel property is no longer possible, Hibl said, due to additional buildings and high voltage power lines that cross overhead.
Lewis said property across Fifth Street is no longer available, but one possibility might be property across from the Clare City garage, which is owned partly by the City and partly by the railroad.
It was a good evening for the City. The Commission also received two checks from Clare County Enterprise Community Executive Director Jerome Burger.
The first check for $20,000 will be used for sanitary sewer improvement supporting industrial expansion in the City. The second check, for $1,500 is to establish a new farmer’s market program in the City.
Burger reported that the Enterprise Community will lose its formal federal status and funding at the end of the year. In the process of transitioning from a federal and county funded program to a 501-3C non-profit program, he said, the Enterprise Community must disperse all remaining funds from the current program. The City had requested the disbursements.
Other business at the City meeting included:
*During the City Manager’s Report, Hibl said the City has received “a second state-level Main Street Award – for the façade improvement for Coffee Talk 505. The façade was selected as the best in the State.
*The Commission approved a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for the Airport Grant to design the proposed hangar project. Phase I of the project will cost $283,444. Of that total, Federal funds will pay 95 percent, State funds will cover 2.5 percent and the City will pay the remaining local match of $7,807.
*Recognition for Kim Parker, who is resigning from the City’s Water and Wastewater Department.
*Setting Clare Halloween Trick or Treat hours for October 31 from 6 to 8 p.m., the same times as in Farwell and Coleman. Harrison’s hours on the same date are 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
*Approval to extend summer sewer credits through September to offset the costs of watering resident’s lawns because of the unusually dry weather.
*A second reading and the adoption of a Payment in Lieu to Taxes (PILOT) ordinance amendment for the Fourth Street Senior Housing Project. The amendment changes the financing source from MISHDA to Isabella Bank.
*The first reading and a public hearing on the proposed road naming and house numbering ordinance for the City. Clare has “opted out” of the proposed county program and developed the ordinance to handle naming new roads, and numbering new residences in the city through the Department of Public Works.
*Hibl reported that the Fourth Street Senior Housing Project Groundbreaking Ceremony will be tentatively held October 1.
Clare Municipal Airport Manager Dick Acker, shown here with Mayor Pat Humphrey, was honored at the Clare City Meeting for his selection as State Airport Manager of the Year.
Jerry Burger, Clare County Enterprise Executive Director, presented two checks totaling $21,500 to the City of Clare Monday evening. $1.500 will help develop a farmer’s market and $20,000 is for sewer system improvements.
Kim Parker, who is resigning from the Waste Water Treatment Facility, was honored by Clare City Monday.
