The Falls International Airport may be losing its third daily commercial flight, at least from November through April, according to the International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission.
The cancellation could not be confirmed by either Northwest or Mesaba Airline, however, the commission secretary Susan Baratono said Wednesday that scheduling for the third flight does not appear during those months. She believes the end of summer schedule flights in combination with high fuel prices brought the cancellation.
Commissioners were concerned that this third flight was a direct flight to Minneapolis. They said they worry about the availability of seating on connection flights to other regional airports before the major hub destination.
Meanwhile, attorney Steve Shermoen updated the commission Wednesday on the Earley/Johnson property acquisition. The property is adjacent to the airport along the U.S. Highway 53 entrance.
The current owner agreed to a county market value sum, on the condition that the commission pay two years of back taxes and any additional costs that are incurred with closing the sale and with clearing any title problems.
Shermoen said the present owner agreed to let the airport mow the property until the agreement is signed. He expects the sale to take a few months and said he would pursue a purchase agreement with consent to remove the buildings on the property in the meantime.
The commission asked Shermoen to move forward and said that they would also look into having the property inspected for hazardous waste. They would also seek sources that would help reimburse as much funds incurred in the process.
The commission approved the monthly financial statement for operating revues totaling $12,411. It also approved project revenues totaling $5,418. Operations expenses totaling $25,800, contingent on examination of an unusually high airport terminal water bill of $1,061, were also approved. The commissioners approved $287,965 in project expenses, the bulk of which was $255,088 to Wagner Construction for the parking lot No. 1 reconstruction.
Thor Einarson, airport manager, said the lower voltage cable did not show up with detection equipment prior to the contractors breaking ground. He said it is fortunate that this was the only cable damaged of many others located under the lot.
Benita Crow, an aviation project manager with the airport’s engineering firm, Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc., reported that the parking lot project is now in its home stretch. She expected that a slight delay in coordinating pavement work would be resolved quickly and that the all work should be completed, including striping within two weeks. She noted that another base layer would need to be placed at some point before the end of the year.
Crow expressed concern with getting through red tape regarding justification of the 35-foot width on the taxi lane project. The FAA would fund a 20-foot taxi lane, the standard in airport planning, and the Falls had to show that the extra 15 feet was necessary for snow removal and the type of aircraft that would use the hanger.
Bowman Construction has surveyed and is ready to go upon approval of contracts. In the meantime they are looking into wetlands and storm drainage permits.
Raymond Strege, the principal of Short Elliott Hendrickson, reported on advocacy work to get an airport deficiency bill passed this legislative session. The bill would include language to reimburse $5 million from the MnDOT Aeronautics fund by the state in the final days of last session. They would also request that retroactive funding for approved projects that were canceled due to the cuts.
The remaining $7 million reimbursement and authorization for additional funds would be requested in the 2010-2011 Biennium.
The commission approved an annual three percent increase for the terminal building lease, contingent to attorney review. The increase affects space rental and does not impact runway or overnight fees.
The next airport commission meeting will be held on Sept. 24, 8 a.m. at Einarson’s conference room.
