Airport manager announces resignation

By P.J. GLISSON

[email protected]

Ironwood — Monday’s meeting of the Gogebic-Iron County Airport Board ended with a jolt when Michael Harma, airport manager, suddenly announced his resignation at the end of the session.

“Today is my last meeting,” said Harma after the board completed discussing all other matters. “Aug. 10 is my last day.”

He added, calmly, “At this point, I think it’s a hindrance that I’m here. I’ve had enough, and that’s all I have.”

Board members did not respond to the announcement except for James Lorenson requesting an official letter of resignation.

Harma assured he would provide it that day, and Board Secretary Kristi Freeman told the Daily Globe on Tuesday morning that the letter had been received.

Lorenson also suggested to board members that they address the pending vacancy in a special meeting.

After the meeting, Harma’s only additional explanation to the Globe was as follows: “It’s just time. Time to move on.”

Nevertheless, he conceded, “I’ll miss the airport. That’s for sure.”

Harma said that he has worked in the job since January of 2013 or about one-half year short of a decade.

Regarding what he considers his biggest accomplishment, he said, “We got jet service in Ironwood (in October 2021). That was a big one.”

He also had just reported to board members during the meeting that a routine 139 inspection relating to the Federal Aviation Administration had gone “pretty well.”

As for whether he’s already committed to other employment, Harma said, “Not yet. I’m going to find something new.”

He added regarding whether he would remain in this region, “For sure.”

When board members also were asked for comment after the meeting, they remained relatively quiet.

“I think the lack of response is more a case of surprise,” said Lorenson.

“It’s a shock,” said Chairman Pat Hanson.

The meeting agenda had proceeded in an orderly manner with the exception of one decidedly contentious interaction between board members Dan Siirila and Brandon Snyder.

The matter of discussion was an update of airport job descriptions, among which was Harma’s.

Siirila criticized the status of Harma’s description, suggesting that “there’s a lot of stuff missing” in comparison to a prior version. He mentioned as one example training new employees.

“I don’t know what’s changed,” said Harma, claiming he did not make any changes.

“You nitpick the (expletive deleted) out of everything,” said Snyder, as both men grew increasingly heated. “Let the guy be a manager.”

“I’m doing my job,” said Siirila.

“You have a personal agenda against Mr. Harma,” claimed Snyder.

Among minor tweaks to the job descriptions was a suggestion by Lorenson and Snyder to add “other duties as assigned” to the list of expectations.

Members then voted to approve them as modified.

A special meeting had been suggested earlier in the meeting by Lorenson in relation to his requesting that the board table action on an employee handbook. The board complied.

Lorenson said that the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners also is working on a county handbook, and he hopes that some aspects such as holidays will result as being in synch with the airport handbook.

“I’d like to make it as consistent as we can,” said Lorenson.

Lorenson also asked Harma to provide to board members the following information on airport employees: years of service, where they stand in relation to step pay, where Harma believes they should be, when such tables were last adjusted, and Harma’s estimate on the financial impact of projected adjustments in pay.

Harma warned that it’s important to keep employee pay moving up or workers will be lost to private industry. He said employees’ most recent raise was last year.

According to Freeman, the airport employs herself, Harma, three full-time linemen, one part-time lineman and seasonal snow workers. She explained that any other employees are reporting directly to Denver AirConnection, the airport’s sole airline.

After viewing pending charts of airport employees, Siirila conceded, “They all appear to be underpaid.”

In other news, board members voted to adopt an airline lease agreement with minor changes noted.

In relation to one change, Lorenson said the lease should read that the airline should report to the board, not the manager. “The board is responsible,” he said, while Synder later suggested adding “and/or board’s designee.”

Board members also agreed to eliminate from the airline lease any reference to the board having responsibility for employee dress codes.

“That should be up to the airline to decide what they’re wearing, not the county,” said Siirila, who said retaining such a directive under the board would amount to “micromanaging.”

Board members also:

—Voted to approve Michigan Department of Transportation Contract No. 2022-0740 relating to taxiway crack sealing and paint marking. Harma said that $20,000 in federal grant funds, via MDOT, will help to cover that expense.

—Voted to put on file an aviation fuel report that prompted Siirila to ask why related sales tax numbers have risen. “The price of fuel has doubled,” said Harma, explaining that sales tax rises accordingly. Moreover, he said, “We’re just the middleman. The consumer pays for the tax, and we just pass it on to the state.”

—Heard from Harma that the airport’s storm water report is complete in the form of a 272-page book. He said an application has been made for another grant that would allow for continued testing.

All of Monday’s votes were unanimous with all members present.

The board’s next regular meeting will be on Aug. 8 at 9 a.m. in the board chambers of the airport. Agendas are posted on the board’s website, and the public is welcome.

As of Tuesday morning, the expected special meeting was not yet scheduled, but was expected to occur before the regular meeting.