Caledonia Argus

County board delays decision on airport feasibility study

Posted: 1/28/03

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

The Houston County Board will wait until the legislative session is over before acting on a request to help fund a feasibility and planning study for the Houston County Airport.

Todd Roesler of the Houston County Economic Development Authority told the county board on January 21 that the airport needs a number of improvements in order to remain competitive. The estimate for a feasibility study on the airport, which would be be necessary for the airport to qualify for 90 percent federal funding, is estimated at $30,000 with 40 percent of that to be paid from local sources and the rest by the state.

Several of the problems with the airport that were identified recently include the need for runway resurfacing; hangars too close to runway, additional land needed to lengthen runway, no sewer or water services, no fuel available, no tracking of use.

Referring to the La Crosse airport, commissioner Kevin Kelleher commented, ìWe are half an hour from a full-service airport. The Houston County Airport serves people who can afford to have a plane.

ìI donít know if you need to spend $30,000 to find that out.î

Vernon Fruechte, a pilot and member of the EDA, told the board that there is explosive growth in the ownership of private jets, and that in some cases, companies are finding it economical to share ownership of a jet with other companies. A suitable airport would help attract new businesses to the area, he said, noting that one local business is in the process of purchasing a King Air.

Commissioner Kelleher commented, ìI donít know how we can justify pouring money into a patch of pavement in a cornfield.

ìThere is no company asking for it,î he said.

Roesler responded that business decisions makers want to have the access that an airport provides.

ìIf youíre going to be a visionary, you have to spend some money,î he told commissioners.

Vernon Fruechte added, ìThink of it in terms of keeping the community viable. Itís an added attraction.î

Kelleher said he doubted that his district would benefit from improvement to the airport.

He said that maybe Caledonia should be the owner of the property.

ìWe donít understand the magnitude of what has happened,î said Kelleher, referring to the stateís record deficit, estimated at more than $4 billion.

ìThis county is one of the most reliant on homestead and LGA.î

Kelleher said he would like to wait until June to decide the issue so that the ìeconomic realitiesî can be assessed.

Human Services

At its January 21 meeting, the county board agreed to spend $6,900 to clean the ductwork in the human services department. Air quality in that department has been a concern for many years, according to Tim Comstock, the countyís personnel director. The county had the option of getting the air tested at a cost of $3,400, but there was a concern that after the test was done, the county would still have the expense of the air cleaning.

In other news from the human services department, John Schroeder reported to the county board that revenues for 2002 were 107 percent of budget while expenditures were 95 percent of budget. Total spending for the department was down by $153,000.

Total revenues in 2002 were $3,840,682, and expenditures were $4,063,734.

Human services director Beth Wilms said, ìunder John and Dorrieís leadership, the staff has done an incredible job, and we still provide quality service.î

Cooperation from other agencies has also been a factor in keeping costs in line, Wilms noted. In the previous year, she told commissioners, the department spent $170,000 more than it collected.

The board also heard from child protection worker Danielle Fuchsel, who explained the ìalternative responseî program to address child abuse. The program, which is mandated by the state, told commissioners that there is ìnot a lot of complianceî when families are confronted with accusations of child abuse. Alternative response approaches the problem from a different direction, offering help and understanding to families that are experiencing problems.

ìThereís not a lot of compliance when families are confronted,î said Fuchsel.

With alternative response, there is no need to substantiate the abuse, and families are directed to the resources that can help them with problems they may be experiencing. In cases of sexual abuse or severe physical abuse or neglect, a traditional course of action is prescribed and a Child in need of Protective Services (Chips) petition is filed.

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