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  • Milford City Councilman Brings Airport Discussion To Wahpeton City Council

Milford City Councilman Brings Airport Discussion To Wahpeton City Council

November 14, 2023 Steve Schwaller

(Wahpeton)– A Milford city councilman is taking the temperature of other lakes area communities over possible long term plans for a new airport in the Iowa Great Lakes. Discussion over a possible new airport was sparked after the city of Milford received an offer for its current airport from a group that wants to build housing on the site of the current airport, with a portion of the site possibly being set aside for a new Okoboji elementary school.

Milford City Councilman Chris Hinshaw told the Wahpeton City Council Monday evening a landowner west of Wahpeton has reportedly expressed interest in selling some land for a new airport. Hinshaw was asked about already having a regional airport less than 20 miles away in Spencer…

“There is no negatives, but we have an airport in Milford and there’s one in Spirit Lake but that’s getting developed around that area so they’re going to have to be thinking about the future, too. That’s why I think it’s as a county, we should be taking this all together.”

Hinshaw added it makes sense to at least purchase the land now…

“Worse case scenario is let’s say we buy the land and nothing ever happens to it. We can rent it out, we can do whatever. It’s not costing us anything, it can be an investment. You can look at it that way. But I’m not saying we’re going to start this year one or in five years, it may be 10 years down the road. But it’s something to think about for the future of everybody.”

Councilman Harold Prior says some would likely consider having a regional airport in the Iowa Great Lakes as an advantage for economic development…

“Everybody’s big on convenience anymore. If we have a local airport I’m guessing the way things work, it’s kind of one of those if you build it they will come sort of things and it probably is likely to bring some jobs.”

Council member Holly Mead had an opposite take, saying she’s concerned the area is already over-developed…

“I know it’s not a real popular view but I feel like we’re way over-building up here for what we can handle.”

Councilman Tom Riersen added that to him, having two regional airports less than 20 miles apart doesn’t make sense…

“And it would seem to me like we’re almost duplicating Spencer by bringing a larger one up here. I don’t know, most of those guys that fly in here, the 17 minute drive is not going to be a huge disadvantage for them. If we had no airports in the lakes area, they’d be happy to go to Spencer.”

The Wahpeton City Council took no action Monday evening as to whether or not the city would support such a project.

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