Feb. 14—WILLMAR

— As Willmar has grown, welcoming more businesses and people, the

Willmar Municipal Airport

has also seen an uptick in the traffic it sees coming in from the sky.

"We have had an increase in jet traffic," said Eric Rudningen, airport manager. "We are seeing bigger, faster airplanes coming into Willmar."

Unfortunately the airport doesn't have a hangar with doors large enough to accommodate many of these planes, requiring them to be parked outside when at the airport, which can be problematic if the weather is bad. At Monday's Willmar City Council meeting, Rudningen spoke to the council about a proposed project at the airport that would see the construction of a larger hangar, along with expanding the main airport apron.

At first the plan was for the city to possibly borrow funds to build a larger hangar. Now a local business, which already uses and owns a hangar at the airport, is interested in building the hangar. It would be large enough for a bigger plane for the business while also having space to store other transient planes that are at the airport only for a short while.

"What that would do is allow for a 120-foot door opening and really be able to accommodate any aircraft that currently is able to use our 5,550-foot runway," Rudningen said.

While the hangar would be built by a private party, the city would be responsible for expanding the main airport apron — the concrete pad where aircraft and vehicles are parked, maintained and fueled, among other aviation activities. A taxi lane connector will also be constructed as part of the plan.

The project, which is estimated to cost more than $900,000 to construct, would be eligible for Federal Aviation Administration grant funds that would pay for nearly 84% of the project cost, with the state covering another 9.8%. The city would be responsible for about $80,000 for the construction of the apron, Rudningen said.

"It is an opportunity for us," Rudningen said.

To be eligible for the FAA funds, the city must hire an engineering firm to complete the professional services for the project, including environmental documentation, preliminary and final plans and specifications and construction engineering services. The council approved a contract with Bolton & Menk to do just that. The contract is worth $150,000, though if the state and FAA funding comes through, the city will pay only about $10,000 of the total.

The hangar and apron projects aren't the only work at the airport Rudningen hopes to tackle. Concrete and drainage improvements are still needed near the private hangars. An airport user had Mayor Marv Calvin read a letter about this specific issue during the open forum at Monday's council meeting, asking that all needed concrete work at the airport be completed as part of this project.

"These old concrete projects have been on the list for 15 years," said William Fry in his letter, read by Calvin. Fry said he is in favor of the proposed project, but just wants the other needs to still be addressed.

Because there are specific limitations on how the federal money is used, any additional concrete work by the private hangars would require separate funding. Rudningen said those other projects haven't been forgotten and will be done.

"It is an issue that needs to be addressed," Rudningen said.

If the proposed hangar and apron project is completed, Rudningen said he believes it will be a boon for the airport. The private individual who is interested in building the hangar also wants to buy a larger plane. That would mean additional fuel sales, along with the land rental fees and property taxes that would come with the hangar.

"The most exciting thing about this opportunity is the new money to the airport," Rudningen said.

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