first on decorahnews.com: Airport long range plan would make $1.7 million in improvements

The Decorah Airport Commission wants to make several changes to the facilities at the airport, changes that would carry a $1.7 million price tag.  Federal grants, if approved, would pay for $1.3 million of that cost, with local taxpayers contributing $404,000.

Decorah Mayor Don Arendt says "there's a definite need" for the improvements, which would include construction of a three airplane stall hangar, a corporate airplane hangar and a seven stall T-hangar, as well as a $300,000 terminal building.

Decorah Airport Manager Mike Connell says there were six airplanes hangared at the airport when he came to Decorah 21 years ago.  That number is now 27—plus there are a number of airplane owners on a waiting list for when additional space opens up.  

Decorah City Manager Chad Bird says the airport currently has a 4,000 foot long runway and there isn't land available for a runway extension, so Decorah Airport Commission members want to concentrate on upgrading airport buildings.  Some hangars have dirt floors, says Bird, and airplane owners have been putting up sheets of plastic to keep out pests.

The three talked Monday with Winneshiek County supervisors, asking them if the county would pay half of the $117,500 local cost of constructing the new three airplane hangar.  County supervisors accepted an invitation from the city officials to take a tour of the airport in the near future to see firsthand for themselves the condition of the existing buildings.