Gundersen Health System officials are hoping to have a new Decorah Airport hanger by this fall

Gundersen AIR's Decorah-based helicopter

Officials of Gundersen Health Systems met with representatives of the Decorah Airport Commission Monday morning to continue working towards a new hangar for the Gundersen AIR helicopter based in Decorah.

Last September the Decorah City Council rejected hangar construction bids when the low bid on the project came in at $1,488,000.  Gundersen Health Systems had hoped for a $1 million price tag.  Code requirements for a hangar that also included living quarters pushed up the price tag.

The new option calls for a separate building for the staff--one that would not have to meet so many code requirements.  Gundersen representative Michael Richards says he's now hoping the project--which will be repaid through rent payments by Gundersen--can begin later this year, with completion some time in the fall.