Summary
The Northwest Regional Airport Authority (NRAA), Grand Traverse County, and Leelanau County held a joint special session on October 14, 2024, to consider the Cherry Capital Airport Terminal Expansion Project. After a presentation and site visit, all three bodies approved resolutions supporting the project and its associated bond financing.
Public Comments
No public comments were made during the session; the record states "Public Comment: None" for agenda items from all three bodies.
Infrastructure Projects
Kevin Klein (CEO, Cherry Capital Airport), Sean Wohl (PFM Financial Advisor), and Attorney Patrick McGow (Miller Canfield) presented the Terminal Expansion Project and airport history, followed by a site visit (3:27–3:49 p.m.) to the proposed expansion area. The project includes five new gates, a connector building, apron expansion, security checkpoint enlargement, a new gate departures lounge, new concessions areas, additional passenger amenities, and passenger boarding bridges.
NRAA approved the project via Resolution 2024-85 (motion by Paul Beachnau, seconded by Wayne Schmidt; roll call 8-0, 1 absent) and approved a bonding request via Resolution 2024-86 (same movers; roll call 8-0, 1 absent), requesting Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties authorize bond issuance and Grand Traverse County pledge its full faith and credit.
Leelanau County adopted Resolution #2024-018 (motion by Allgaier, seconded by O’Rourke) approving the bond issuance; roll call vote: Allgaier, Lautner, O’Rourke, Ross, Wessell all YES (5-0, 1 absent). Grand Traverse County approved its own resolution (Resolution 63-2024, motion by Darryl Nelson, seconded by Penny Morris) to approve the bond issuance and pledge full faith and credit; roll call vote 5 YES, 1 NO (Andrews), 3 absent.
Other Business
Chairs Plamondon (NRAA), Wessell (Leelanau County), and Hentschel (Grand Traverse County) thanked attendees for their support at the close of the meeting.
Financial Summary
The Terminal Expansion Project is anticipated to be funded through Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Entitlement and Discretionary Grants, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Infrastructure Grants (BIL-AIG), Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Terminals Program (BIL-ATP) Grants, State of Michigan grants, and NRAA funds. Additionally, bonds of up to $60,000,000 are planned, plus capitalized interest and issuance costs, for a total principal amount not to exceed $71,000,000, to be issued by NRAA and repaid with airport revenues. Grand Traverse County agreed to pledge its full faith and credit for the bonds, subject to formal county approval.
Action Items
Leelanau County’s recommendation (Resolution #2024-018) must be formally adopted by the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners. Grand Traverse County’s Resolution 63-2024 likewise requires formal board adoption. No further deadlines or follow-up tasks were specified in the minutes.