Leelanau Township is considering its next steps in helping to restore the historic Woolsey Memorial Airport in Northport.
A decision on how much funds they have dedicated towards the restoration project could be decided as soon as next month.
The township board of trustees met for their regular monthly meeting Jan. 10 after the original date had to be rescheduled a day later. During discussion, the board listened to a presentation about airport rehabilitation plans from Mike Krueger, a licensed structural engineer helping to organize the restoration project, as well as township parks and recreation committee members.
The airport, which originally was a creamery part of Byron Woosley’s dairy farm, was donated to Leelanau Township in 1933 to be an airport in memory of his son, Clinton, who served as a pilot in World War I and was one of the first recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Krueger is lending his expertise to the repair and preservation of the terminal and explained how the recently formed group “Saving Woolsey Airport Terminal” (SWAT!) has developed a preliminary scope of work to restore the structural integrity and the weatherproofi ng for the building, with optional work items for further improvements and to enhance safety, longevity, and appearance.
A list of current airport critical conditions include the concrete topping in the flat roof viewing area being cracked as the waterproof coating is splitting and debonding, letting water leak into the building. The steel lintels supporting the stone over the window openings are corroding and cracking the mortar, which will soon lead to stones dislodging. And the steel reinforcing in the arched concrete beams are corroding and causing the supporting concrete to break apart.
To restore the structural integrity and weatherproofing, Krueger said rooftop concrete repairs will need to be made, as well as roof coating, painting the pergola, window lintel and masonry repairs, and concrete beam repairs, among others. To improve safety and durability, some of the plans include installing a foundation drain, replacing the rooftop guardrail, installing a curved stair handrail and interior stair railing, and upgrading electrical.
The preliminary cost estimate to restore the structural integrity and weatherproofing with improvements to safety and durability, ranges from $280,000 to $450,000, however, the inclusion of optional historic restoration improvements would cost an additional $70,000 to $150,000. The overall total cost could be anywhere from $350,000 to $600,000.
The airport’s deteriorating state and call for prompt action was echoed by Leelanau Township parks and recreation committee member Daniel Toole, who noted how funding and a plan must be in place before soliciting bids for a repair project. The township approval to rehabilitate the terminal will expedite SWAT! planning and fundraising, and monetary support will further expedite the fundraising process. Once sufficient funds have been raised, a bid package is to be presented to the board for approval.
Both Krueger and Toole wrapped up the presentation asking for approval from the township for a set amount of funds to be expended unless community fundraising can raise enough money for the total project with historic restoration improvements. Township board trustees contemplated allotting around a third of the budget, $100,000, towards the project at the meeting, but nothing was set in stone.
“Most of our experience in other organizations show that when the community supports it (the project), it makes an enormous difference to public fundraising,” Toole said at the meeting. “We are asking you to consider at your next public meeting with public comments, funding also from the township, but we do believe that quite a lot can be raised from the public and private citizens here… we guess that we would need at least $300,000 in hand, or firm pledges by the first of June.”
Trustee Georgie Murray and treasurer Denise Dunn voiced their support for the project after the presentation, with Murray adding that they’ll have to be “very prepared on both sides of the coin regardless of how we might personally view the importance of this renovation.”
“My personal feeling is that it’s a building that’s worth saving, it is part of the history of this community, and everybody really likes it,” Dunn said.
Township supervisor Mark McMillan said the board will further consider contributing township funds at their next regular meeting in February, where they will also talk about the 2024 budget process.
