(Milford)– The proposed “Milford Campus” project on the northwest side of Milford is reviving talks about a possible new airport in Dickinson county. That discussion has been dormant for more than 20 years. It’s been the topic of heated controversy in the past.
The future of the “Milford Campus” project is strictly dependent upon the city of Milford selling the Fuller Airport to the Spirit Of Okoboji group. It was announced at an informational meeting Wednesday evening that a group called the “Okoboji Airport Foundation” has been formed. Barry Sackett, a lakes area attorney, serves as the group’s chairman. He tells KUOO news they’ve already been in discussion with pilots and with those who oversee operations at the airport in Milford, as well as the Spirit Lake Airport located in Okoboji…
“Yeah, we’ve had talks with airport users in the community, pilots, people that fly up here for the weekend; people that have planes here and house them here; with the Milford Airport Board; the Spirit Lake Airport Board, I don’t think that’s quite the right title for them, which I apologize, and really looking for other community members that are interested in what happens for air travel in Dickinson county, you know, not only in Milford but for the Spirit Lake Airport which is located in Okoboji.”
Sackett says they’ve also had some discussions with a consultant…
“We’ve had some consultants investigate possible alternatives. I wouldn’t say we’ve designated any, but yes, we’ve been exploring where in the county is a good place for an airport. Is this similar to talks that were had, what was it like, 20, 25 years ago, whenever? I mean it’s similar in the sense that they were looking at both airports and we certainly look back at the lessons they learned and the actions they took. There’s no sense in reinventing the wheel. And so in that sense they’re similar. I think the ideas that they had certainly made sense at the time. Do they make sense now, we’re not sure yet. And again we want to make sure we get all of the stakeholders and all of the people that may be interested in that solution on board and not try to bring anything in from the outside, but we’ve got Dickinson county. What’s Dickinson county need for air travel, and how can we deliver it to them?”
Tim Kinnetz, President of the Spirit of Okoboji group, announced Wednesday evening they’ll be going before the Milford City Council June 13th regarding the possible sale of the Fuller airport to the organization, which has made an offer for it.
