CAA: GA News, "Iowa cities eye possibility of regional airport"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Friday, March 15, 2002

Cities eye possibility of regional airport
By ERIC COOP
The Ottumwa (IA) Courier


OSKALOOSA - Three area communities are considering the construction of a
regional airport in either Mahaska or Marion counties.

The cities of Oskaloosa, Pella and Knoxville are working together on a
study on the feasiblity of building a regional airport near the three
cities. According to Pella city administrator Jim Twombly, the new
facility would replace existing fields in all three communities.

Oskaloosa city administrator Don Sandon said his city was contacted by
Pella officials asking if Oskaloosa and Knoxville would be interested in
collaborating on a study. The total cost of the study was $57,000, with
90 percent funded by the Iowa Department of Transportation. The three
cities had to pay $1,900 each.

Should the plan move forward, DOT officials have promised an additional
$81,000 for study purposes.

Sandon said the consultant, G.R.W. Willis of Arlington, Texas, issued a
preliminary review to the board from the three cities sometime in
February. The review looked at eight sites between Pella, Oskaloosa and
Knoxville where the proposed airport may be located. Sandon said the
board requested the consultant look at two additional sites. 

The report on the two additional sites should be issued sometime in
April.

Sandon said no cost analysis has been done on the project and that the
Oskaloosa City Council has not made a decision on whether it will fully
support the project. Knoxville city manager Brian James reported his
city's council hasn't made a decision.

³The committee is supposed to narrow the sites down to three,\ Sandon
said.

Currently, the intent of the committee is to provide general aviation
and corporate jet services. The panel is not looking to have commercial
air service at the field. Sandon explained he would hope the airport
would have an instrument landing system, similar to the precision
landing equipment at the Ottumwa Industrial Airport.

Twombly said Pella recently expanded its runway to 5,000 feet to handle
corporate jets, which are either stored at the field or coming in to do
business in Pella. After the Federal Aviation Administration inspected
the increased runway length, the city was informed that its
aviation-related buildings were too close to the runway.

³We realized we've done all we can (at this present location), Twombly
explained. ³We can't expand the current field.

He said the city believes the new airport has growth potential for
industrial and other services. 

³It's a quality of life issue, Twombly explained.


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