Courtesy Image This artist’s rendering provided by Sidock Group Inc. depicts the proposed design for Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-op’s headquarters and service center to be built at the former Onaway airport.

ROGERS CITY — The Brighton-based engineering firm Brivar Construction Co. has pulled a building permit for Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-op’s new headquarters and service center planned for the former Leo E. Goetz Airport in Onaway.

Presque Isle County Building and Zoning Official Mike Libby on Friday shared the news with the county Board of Commissioners, saying the construction company has “equipment on the site” and is “going to start any day.”

Libby said the engineering company paid a little over $43,000 for the permit.

“We’re excited that the project is finally starting to come together,” PIE&G President and CEO Tom Sobeck said. “We’re working at final budget numbers and doing our best to bring in a project at budget that will provide our members some improved service and increased cost-efficiencies and reliability.”

Sobeck said construction on the estimated $22 million project is set to begin in April. He said the construction is expected to be a 12- to 14-month process and PIE&G officials hope to move into the new facility in late summer or fall 2021.

The project includes 30,000 square feet of office space and 100,000 square feet of garage and warehouse space. Sobeck said “space” was the biggest reason to move to the new location, as the company’s current location is on 37 acres and the airport property has 100 acres.

The airport property was given to the utility company by the county on Jan. 10, following the county board’s decision to close the airport last February.

County commissioners then requested proposals for interested buyers, in lieu of having the property assessed, and the submission from PIE&G was the only proposal the county received.

Sobeck said the company’s existing office was designed for 42 employees and 12,000 utility meters, but the company currently has 80 employees and 50,000 electric and gas meters. He said the service center will allow the company to store their vehicles in a garage, instead of outdoors.

PIE&G started as an electric-only cooperative in 1937 and added natural gas service in the mid-90s.

Sobeck said the company is now contemplating a fiber project for its customers, depending on the results of a financial analysis.

“We’ve received a number of inquiries since people caught wind that we were looking into it, and it’s generated some excitement,” he said. “But, again, it’s incredibly expensive.”

The utility company serves customers in Alpena, Montmorency, Presque Isle, and Cheboygan counties, as well as five additional counties.

The county is currently fighting a lawsuit from a former airport tenant who accuses the county of violating his contract by allowing the airport to fall into disrepair and ultimately close.

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