ROGERS CITY — The Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Friday to give the former Leo E. Goetz Airport in Onaway to the Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-op.

Meanwhile, the county has filed a response to a lawsuit from a former airport tenant who accuses the county of violating its contract with him by closing the airport while his lease was still in effect. The county says the suit is frivolous. The lawsuit is not expected to affect the transfer of the property to PIE&G, utility CEO Tom Sobeck previously told The News.

PIE&G officials in June asked the county give them the airport property so the utility can build a $15 million to $20 million headquarters and service center there. The county sought requests for proposals for the property, instead of having the property appraised for a possible sale, and PIE&G was the only firm to respond.

Sobeck on Friday told commissioners his company had completed a site survey and was ready to move forward with the project. The utility company’s board met on Aug. 27 to review the site conditions of the airport and PIE&G’s current headquarters in Allis Township, according to a letter from PIE&G to the commissioners.

“Both our architect and construction manager agree that the best site for the construction of the facility is the airport property, so I’m here to formally request that you again take up the proposal that we submitted back in June,” Sobeck said.

PIE&G has hired the Novi-based architectural firm Sidock Group Inc. and the Brighton-based Brivar Construction Co. as its construction management firm, according to the letter.

Sobeck previously told The News the soil was being tested for structural soundness and an environmental study was being completed. On Friday, Sobeck the company still wants to look further into some darkened soil behind one of the hangars at the airport.

Answering a question from Commissioner John Chappa, Sobeck said PIE&G officials have looked into requesting a tax abatement but are not sure they would be able to get one.

“For some reason, public utilities aren’t given that luxury, so to speak, but I’d be lying if I said we’re not looking into it,” he said. “We’re obligated to do what we can to make it as economical as possible, but, at this point, it doesn’t look like that’s a possibility for us.”

The county’s attorney, Joe Kwiatkowski, said a lot of documents still need to be prepared for the transfer to happen. He said he would be work with PIE&G’s attorney moving forward.

PIE&G will pay the costs required to execute the transfer of the property.

Kwiatkowski also notified the board that a lawsuit filed against the county by Oakland County resident and former airport tenant Anthony Wyatt could soon be headed to pretrial in front of Judge Erik Stone.

“I’ll give you a report on other issues that need to be in closed session next meeting, probably,” he said.

A court date has not yet been scheduled.

Wyatt’s lawsuit filed in August accuses the county of allowing the airport to fall into disrepair and ultimately close while his lease remained in effect. Wyatt is asking the county to pay more than $25,000 for breaching the contract.

The county’s response, filed in 53rd Circuit Court on Friday morning, denies that the county discontinued upkeep or restricted Wyatt’s access to the premises. The response states Wyatt’s allegations are “wholly without merit and frivolous” and asks the court to dismiss the lawsuit and order Wyatt to pay the county’s court costs and attorney fees.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.