New airport funding requests being made

This application, for Fiscal Year 2011, comes following a FY 10 application for $120,000 in similar federal dollars for snow removal equipment for the airport.

If the FAA money comes though, it would eliminate using property tax dollars to pay for snow removal and maintenance, now a responsibility of the Le Mars Public Works Department, said City Administrator Scott Langel.

The city must provide a 5 percent local match for the FAA dollars, and that is expected to come through Le Mars Urban Renewal/Tax Increment Financing revenue.

Langel said he's "optimistic" on both application requests.

The applications through the FAA are an annual event with the city's designation as an Entitlement City, Langel explained.

The funding "comes down the pike" when approved by Congress, contingent on the city's having an up-to-date capital improvement plan in order, he added.

The snow removal equipment is sorely needed as a result of the recent runway expansion, additional taxiways and access points to the airport, Langel said.

"It's definitely warranted and if you buy equipment as stated by Councilman (John) Leonard, you don't want to store the equipment outdoors, not in our type of climate," he said.

Asking for support for the storage building application, Langel cautioned council members on the lack of feasibility in relying on the use of an airport hanger for storage due to its construction characteristics.

Langel said it is likely the hoped for new equipment can be used for snow maintenance on the bypass if it falls appropriately into the airport access pattern as required in the FAA funding request.

McClure Engineering Co., on behalf of the City of Le Mars, is seeking additional FAA Entitlement City dollars for FY 2011- FY 2015 including money for runway end turnarounds: $76,760 (FY2012), $213,227 (FY2013) and $213,227 (FY014).

The FY2015 funding request includes the following projects: terminal remodeling, $47,500; security fencing/gates, $106,495; ALP update, $66,500 and parallel taxiway, $1,497,612.

The airport long-range needs assessment plan for FY 2016- FY 2020 also lists these future projects for federal FAA funding: $596,600 to buy land to extend the runway to 5,500 ft. in FY 2016; $1,223,600 to extend the runway to 5,500 ft. in FY 2017; and $332,500 to complete parallel taxiway extensions in FY 2018.