(International Falls) Airport parking lot work nearly complete (newspaper article)
Dan Hoehn
By Tom LaVenture
August 29, 2008
The Falls International Airport may be losing its third daily
commercial flight, at least from November through April, according to
the International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission.
The cancellation could not be confirmed by either Northwest or Mesaba
Airline, however, the commission secretary Susan Baratono said
Wednesday that scheduling for the third flight does not appear during
those months. She believes the end of summer schedule flights in
combination with high fuel prices brought the cancellation.
Commissioners were concerned that this third flight was a direct
flight to Minneapolis. They said they worry about the availability of
seating on connection flights to other regional airports before the
major hub destination.
Meanwhile, attorney Steve Shermoen updated the commission Wednesday on
the Earley/Johnson property acquisition. The property is adjacent to
the airport along the U.S. Highway 53 entrance.
The current owner agreed to a county market value sum, on the
condition that the commission pay two years of back taxes and any
additional costs that are incurred with closing the sale and with
clearing any title problems.
Shermoen said the present owner agreed to let the airport mow the
property until the agreement is signed. He expects the sale to take a
few months and said he would pursue a purchase agreement with consent
to remove the buildings on the property in the meantime.
The commission asked Shermoen to move forward and said that they would
also look into having the property inspected for hazardous waste. They
would also seek sources that would help reimburse as much funds
incurred in the process.
The commission approved the monthly financial statement for operating
revues totaling $12,411. It also approved project revenues totaling
$5,418. Operations expenses totaling $25,800, contingent on
examination of an unusually high airport terminal water bill of
$1,061, were also approved. The commissioners approved $287,965 in
project expenses, the bulk of which was $255,088 to Wagner
Construction for the parking lot No. 1 reconstruction.
Thor Einarson, airport manager, said the lower voltage cable did not
show up with detection equipment prior to the contractors breaking
ground. He said it is fortunate that this was the only cable damaged
of many others located under the lot.
Benita Crow, an aviation project manager with the airport’s
engineering firm, Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc., reported that the
parking lot project is now in its home stretch. She expected that a
slight delay in coordinating pavement work would be resolved quickly
and that the all work should be completed, including striping within
two weeks. She noted that another base layer would need to be placed
at some point before the end of the year.
Crow expressed concern with getting through red tape regarding
justification of the 35-foot width on the taxi lane project. The FAA
would fund a 20-foot taxi lane, the standard in airport planning, and
the Falls had to show that the extra 15 feet was necessary for snow
removal and the type of aircraft that would use the hanger.
Bowman Construction has surveyed and is ready to go upon approval of
contracts. In the meantime they are looking into wetlands and storm
drainage permits.
Raymond Strege, the principal of Short Elliott Hendrickson, reported
on advocacy work to get an airport deficiency bill passed this
legislative session. The bill would include language to reimburse $5
million from the MnDOT Aeronautics fund by the state in the final days
of last session. They would also request that retroactive funding for
approved projects that were canceled due to the cuts.
The remaining $7 million reimbursement and authorization for
additional funds would be requested in the 2010-2011 Biennium.
The commission approved an annual three percent increase for the
terminal building lease, contingent to attorney review. The increase
affects space rental and does not impact runway or overnight fees.
The next airport commission meeting will be held on Sept. 24, 8 a.m.
at Einarson’s conference room.