Local pilots and aviation enthusiasts may soon see some major improvements made to the center of flight in Dowagiac.

The Dowagiac City Council approved a resolution during the regular meeting Monday evening that will pave the way for design work to commence for a new terminal building at the Dowagiac Municipal Airport. The council approved an agreement made between the city and the Michigan Department of Transportation, the latter of which will provide funding for the work via a block grant from the Federal Aviation Administration.

“Each year, MDOT, through its transportation program and in conjunction with the FAA, funds projects at small airports throughout the state,” said Dowagiac City Manager Kevin Anderson. “Everyone had to put together a five-year plan, which we had approved in the fall of last year.”

In September, the city received federal funding for another project at the local airport, securing easement rights for land near the property’s west landing strip to help manage the height of trees. The city only had to contribute 5 percent of the total cost of the project.

The terminal is next on the list of items for improvement, Anderson said. The structure is often used to give pilots a place to stay in the case of inclement weather.

“We have a structure out there that is in pretty rough shape,” Anderson said. “We looked at whether it would be more effective to build something new or remodel it. Everyone who looked at it said we were better off starting from scratch.”

The design work is estimated to cost a total of $9,000, of which the city will only have to cover $225, per the estimates listed in the MDOT contract. The rest of the funds will be provided by federal and state fuel tax dollars, Anderson said.

“Assuming that the design is approved by the state, we would expect to enter into a similar grant funding agreement to build the building later this year,” he said.

Other action taken by council Monday included:

• Reappointment of Diane Barrett-Curtis for a term expiring May 2019 to the Local Officers Compensation Commission.

• Authorization of a grant application to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority for $500,000 for the development of downtown apartments.

• Approval of a new ADA complaint policy for the Dowagiac Dial-a-Ride Transit.

• Approval of the Local Officers Compensation Commission’s recommendation that the City Clerk position receive a bi-weekly salary of $740.39, plus a meeting stipend of $25.

• Approval of charitable gaming licenses for the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival and Positively Dance.

• Payment of outstanding bills and payroll in the amount of $904,050.61.