Grand Forks Airport Authority Gets Some of the Land Needed for Expansion

May 27—The Grand Forks Airport Authority has reached a deal with a landowner to acquire a parcel of land needed for a runway expansion project.

Details about the deal were not available at the Airport Board's meeting on Thursday, May 27, but the acquisition puts the airport one step closer to proceeding with its expansion project. Two more parcels of land still need to be acquired, and draft purchase agreements have been sent to the remaining landowner.

"We're certainly on track to be able to complete that, and move into the next phase for our construction projects," said Ryan Riesinger, executive director of Grand Forks Airport.

In total there are four necessary parcels of land that need to be acquired to complete the runway expansion. Three are privately-owned, and are located on the west side of the airport. A 32-acre plot owned by the city was turned over to the Airport Authority in April, and Riesinger told the board he has received the deed for that land.

Enplanements have increased at the airport, and passenger numbers, while not at pre-pandemic levels, have also increased. In April, passenger numbers increased by about 1,600 more than airport staff forecasted. It's a sign of a slow return to normal, but the fact that masks are still required at airports drew some ire from an airport board member.

Steve Kuhlman, vice chairman of the airport board, said Transportation Security Administration workers have been conducting compliance checks for people and staff at the airport, which he likened to "heckling." Riesinger said those workers are part of a special compliance team, not screeners, and TSA has been conducting a comprehensive inspection at the airport.

"I just think it's kind of ridiculous that they're actually seeking out, and kind of on a power trip, of getting people to wear masks on private businesses that are on the airport," Kuhlman said.

Despite recently relaxed orders, the Centers for Disease Control requires masks for all people at airports, and other forms of transit like busses and taxis.

Board member Karl Bollingberg expressed concern that people may be driving to Fargo and taking flights there, and stressed the importance of flying locally. The issue is one of available Delta flights. Riesinger said as the airline ramps up, flights have not been added to Grand Forks' airport at the rate they have been at other airports. A consultant for the airport, Riesinger said, is working to gather statistical data and to support adding more flights to the city. Riesinger called the situation a "brief anomaly."

In other airport news, board members:

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Heard about a number of bids for new equipment, including an airport fire truck, runway snow blowers and others, that came in much lower than anticipated. The board set aside $4 million in CARES Act funding for the new equipment last month. The bids will save the airport about $800,000.

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Authorized spending about $4,000 to take a soil boring on land near where the crosswind runway is to be expanded. Analysis of the boring will help determine the integrity of the land, for construction purposes.

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