ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Within a few months, the Delta County Airport will officially have a new manager.
County Administrator Ashleigh Young has been acting as an interim airport manager since former manager Robert Ranstadler’s departure just over two months ago. Several candidates applied for the position, but the County’s top two choices turned down the position.
On Monday, the Airport Advisory Board and County Board of Commissioners agreed that Young was the best fit for the position. Young met with County Board Chair John Malnar later in the week for negotiations. On Thursday, the County Board met again to vote on an agreement with Young.
Malnar noted that Young holds an airport management license, an airport security coordinator certificate, bachelor’s degrees in business administration management and accounting. She also has ten years of experience with the County. While Ranstadler’s salary was $60,000 at the time of his resignation, Malnar said Young had a “hardline” of $85,000 to take the position.
“We did some discussion,” Malnar told his fellow commissioners. “I did go down to $77,500 and she said $80,000.”
The proposed agreement Young came to with Malnar included a starting salary of $80,000 and a $5,000 increase in October. However, Commissioner Christine Williams said a wage increase should be contingent on Young meeting certain airport requirements, like completing a successful FAA inspection.
“A move from $80 to 85 is in perpetuity; it’s not a one-time thing,” said Williams. “This is a salary adjustment that will be in place for the rest of that fulfilled position… A salary adjustment from one place to another typically has some value in which the County is going to receive associated with it… Do I believe that we’re going to pass our FAA inspection under Miss Young’s guidance? Yes. Absolutely I do, but I think it’s important that if we’re going to agree to increase someone’s salary in some period of time that there is something in return for that.”
After a lengthy discussion, the Board voted in favor of offering Young the position at a starting salary of $80,000, effective either 60 days after she submits a notice that she will be leaving her administrator position or when the County hires a new administrator. Her $5,000 salary increase on October 1 will be dependent on her completion of a Part 139 professional training course, which covers the basics of airport operations.
The County Board is now looking for a new administrator to replace Young.
