Support your local businesses

DECORAH — The Decorah Airport Commission held a brief meeting on Wednesday, October 16 to review the airport's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and consider updates on various projects, including the corporate hangar development and a solar arrangement for energy efficiency. During the meeting, the commission approved the September 11 meeting minutes and moved on to discuss the CIP. City Manager Travis Goedken emphasized the need to submit a draft by early November for review by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with final approval expected by mid-December. A motion to approve the CIP was passed unanimously. As the commission winds down on major building phases for the airport, the focus is shifting to long-term maintenance projects. "We're not in a position to do anything big for a couple of years, so we'll let funds build back up," Commission member Kevin Thompson said. The commission approved the plan, noting that the projects listed on the CIP must remain eligible for future Department of Transportation (DOT) and FAA funding. Next, the commission discussed updates on the corporate hangar project. Dave Joens of McClure Engineering presented revised financials and informed the commission that the matching local funds required for federal funding had been reduced from 10% to 5%, resulting in a savings of $12,000 for the city. While significant progress has been made, Joens highlighted some remaining tasks, including electrical revisions and the completion of plans for city inspection. However, no action from the commission was necessary at this time. The commission also touched upon the ongoing solar energy project, noting that no stockpile materials had been requested and the energy company is currently working on securing permits. Goedken confirmed that no actions were required at this time. In other discussions, Mike Connell reported that regular maintenance has slowed due to unseasonably dry weather but raised concerns about repairs to hangar doors and equipment upgrades. He also noted potential savings if the airport transitioned its maintenance hangar's electrical service to the new terminal's panel, which would reduce monthly energy costs and improve efficiency. Unlock a world of knowledge! Sign up for free DecorahNews.com newsletters and receive local news, local events and everything that is happening in and around Decorah.

Support your local businesses

Decorah Airport's Solar Energy Project Moves Forward, Permits Pending