ESCANABA — The Delta County Board is seeking community members to serve on the county’s Brownfield Authority, which was created to support the redevelopment of distressed, contaminated or functionally obsolete properties known as “brownfields”.

The board is looking to appoint four members to the authority alongside Commissioner Christine Williams, who already serves on the board. Individuals with experience in real estate, development, banking or finance are especially encouraged to apply.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines brownfield as, “a property, the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.”

However, the Environmental Law Institute states brownfields can also include commercial buildings with little or no environmental contamination. In practice, many states and local governments have included older commercial or industrial buildings and abandoned properties with perceived contamination risk, even if none is confirmed.

For example, the City of Escanaba’s Brownfield Authority “designates Brownfield redevelopment zones and individual properties that are functionally obsolete or are likely to be environmentally distressed” pursuant to legislation.

Commissioner Matthew Jensen said brownfields were a topic of discussion at a recent Building Michigan Communities Conference.

“One of the misconceptions with brownfield — which may lend to why we’re having a more difficult time getting people to volunteer — is previously everybody looked at a brownfield as it’s just a contaminated area,” Jensen said. “That’s obviously since changed, and it now encompasses a very broad definition as far as if a property falls under the category of a brownfield or land.”

Brownfields can provide local governments with opportunities to transform underused properties into developments that generate economic growth and long-term benefits for the county.

Commissioner Christine Williams emphasized Tuesday there are numerous redevelopment opportunities throughout the area.

“We have a lot of brownfield opportunities across the county,” Williams said. “And the thing that I really want to get moving on is there is money, the state has money for brownfield redevelopment right now, and the U.P. isn’t applying.”

Williams said the county would likely have a strong chance of receiving grant funding if it submits applications for redevelopment projects.

She also said the board has faced challenges finding members for the authority. According to Williams, she has spoken with representatives from EGLE and InvestUP about how to facilitate membership and better define the authority’s role and desired qualifications for applicants.

Interested applicants can apply by filling out an application on the county’s website.

In other business Tuesday, the board:

– Approved Airport Manager Ashleigh Young request of a $8,090.47 credit to a hangar tenant’s account for documented material costs associated with permanent facility upgrades. The improvements include the installation of a Modine Hot Dawg 125K heating unit, wall and hangar door insulation, a ceiling fan and protective steel wall sheeting.

– Approved Young’s request for authorization to post a Request for Proposals (RFP) to clean and paint the airport fuel tanks and to utilize Associated Energy Group (AEG) Fuels grant funds for the project.

– Approved Young’s request to accept an EGLE grant awarded to the Delta County Airport in the amount of $487,756 for the continued investigation of PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) and the procurement of PFAS-free firefighting equipment to ensure compliance with evolving environmental and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards.

– Approved to fill the positions of deputy probation clerk within the 94th District Court and the probation supervisor within the Probate Court. A request to fill the deputy traffic clerk position within the 94th District Court was rescinded.

– Approved administration’s request to reassign Commissioner Patrick Johnson to the Delta County Solid Waste Management Authority (Landfill), a seat that is currently held by Commissioner Kelli van Ginhoven per the 2026 voted upon board assignments.

– Approved to compensate County Clerk Nancy Przewrocki for coordinating and overseeing Early Voting for the State/Federal elections. Delta County’s cities and townships have agreed to compensate Przewrocki, according to the agenda item. This does not increase the clerk’s salary, and the clerk is only paid for services they provide.

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