The Delta County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the restructuring of positions at the Delta County Airport. (Daily Press file photo)

ESCANABA — The Delta County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to restructure positions at the Delta County Airport, nearly two years after an investigation into the airport’s operations began.

Commissioners approved updated job descriptions and salaries for positions at the Delta County Airport, including Airport Manager, Airfield Operations Manager and Airport Business Coordinator.

The changes are intended to meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements and clarify operational responsibilities.

Under the new structure, oversight of Part 139 compliance — which governs commercial airport safety standards and — will shift from the Airport Manager Ashleigh Young to the Airfield Operations Manager. That position, which has yet to be filled, will oversee the daily safety, security and efficiency of the airfield environment.

As a result of the change, the board approved a one-time $10,000 reduction in Young’s current salary of $88,145. The Airfield Operations Manager position will be posted at $65,000 annually.

Commissioner Matthew Jensen said the need for an operations manager role has been discussed for years.

“That’s something that, not just recently has been discussed, but — to my understanding — goes back well over 10 years as a need just as a matter of organization with the airport, itself,” Jensen said.

Jensen also referenced communication from the FAA to County Administrator Emily DeSalvo that accelerated the restructuring process.

In another motion, commissioners approved the job description of the Airport Business Coordinator role. Under the general supervision of the Airport Manager, the coordinator will serve as the primary point of contact for the airport’s administrative office and provide clerical support to the Airport Manager, Airfield Operations Manager and other staff.

The position will pay $49,647 annually as a non-exempt employee working 37.5 hours per week.

The restructuring follows a period of instability at the airport. Airport Manager Robert Ranstadler, who began in October 2023, and Assistant Airport Manager Robyn Morrison, who started in June 2023, both resigned on the same day in December 2024.

Ranstadler had been hired to replace former Delta County Airport Manager Andrea Nummilien, who stepped down in June 2023.

Prior to his resignation, Ranstadler told commissioners the airport was in an “administrative crisis,” citing there were missing records.

“It’s almost like a vacuum of records just having completely disappeared or not being kept up since early 2021,” Ranstadler said at a December 2023 meeting.

Those concerns prompted an investigation led by then-county attorney Scott Graham under the direction of the past board of commissioners.

The findings were later forwarded to the FAA, which ultimately determined no action was necessary.

—

Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.