(Spirit Lake)– A study into the feasibility of building a new airport that would replace existing ones in Okoboji and Milford may be about to enter a new phase.
The study is being spearheaded by the cities of Milford and Spirit Lake.
Tuesday, the Spirit Lake city council voted three-to-two to apply for a 150-thousand dollar federal aeronautics grant. If awarded, the cities of Spirit Lake and Milford would have to come up with 7,500-dollars each. The remainder would come from the federal government.
Councilman Bob Cosens, who represents the city of Spirit Lake on the committee that’s looking into the matter, says if awarded, the grant would fund a more-in-depth study into a new airport, including possible sites. Cosens says the study would be performed by a Fort Dodge engineering firm, which did the first, more preliminary study.
Cosens says if the cities don’t apply for the grant, the federal government will automatically rule out any future assistance to maintain the existing airports in Okoboji and Milford. As a result, Cosens says those facilities would probably have to close in five to 10 years.
Councilmen Terry Yarns and Pat McNorton voted against the motion to apply for the grant. Yarns is concerned the study will be too open-ended, and he feels the fact that there’s already a larger airport a short distance down the road in Spencer will probably weigh heavily against building a similar facility in the lakes area.
The Milford city council has yet to act on the grant application.
