PIERRE—The dispute over major changes planned for Redfield's city airport received an unofficial hearing Tuesday by the state Aeronautics Commission.
The panel listened to reports from Redfield businessman and pilot Dan Appel, Redfield Township supervisor Dave Albrecht, Redfield Mayor Jayme Akin and others, before agreeing without a vote that the disagreements on the project are local issues.
Skip VanDerhule, of Yankton, the state commission's chairman, assured Albrecht that his township would have an advocate at the state level for compensation if the township road south of the airport must go.
VanDerhule told Albrecht the township needs to provide the state Department of Transportation and the city government with an estimate for upgrading another township road one mile away.
Appel said he doesn't blame city officials and the project seems needed, but local people must be better included in the process as the project moves forward.
Akin said the city must have airport improvements because the current facility is so obsolete that spare parts for lights came from McLaughlin's scrapyard.
Akin said the goal is to install an aircraft approach system which would benefit emergency-services aircraft, and that isn't possible without the new main runway. The airport also is an important local hub for crop sprayers.
Appel agreed the approach system would be a big gain, but said there's no point to changing the current airport if the approach system isn't part of the project.
Akin said Appel doesn't represent the city and the eight elected Redfield City Council members support the airport project. Akin said the airport could be forced to close at some point in the future without the upgrades now.
"I don't want to roll the dice. I don't want to take a chance. We've got a lot riding on this," Akin said.
VanDerhule said the meeting Tuesday was productive. "We've actually managed to put you guys together in one room, which is an accomplishment," he said.
Only four of the commission's six current members participated, including two by telephone. Commissioner Eric Odenbach, of Eureka, came in from his wheat harvest to be on the call.
Odenbach said he visited the Redfield airport last week with Appel and others. Odenbach said a variety of things didn't seem up to standard, such as the bathroom being out of toilet paper and garbage that needed be taken out.
He urged city officials and project consultant Helms and Associates to listen to Appel and the others.
"They have some valid concerns," Odenbach said. "I think everybody should take this user group's concerns into consideration."
Source: http://www.mitchellrepublic.com
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