Rooks County moving ahead with new airport

By KALEY LYON, The Hays Daily News, klyon@dailynews.net

STOCKTON -- After years of work, it's another step forward for Rooks County's efforts to construct a new airport with a paved runway. Acquisition of more than 400 acres of land for the new facility, which will be between Stockton and Plainville, was completed Jan. 22.

"Anytime you can improve your transportation infrastructure, whether highways, railroads or airports, it's going to have a positive economic impact on your area," said Chris Kollman, chairman of the Rooks County Airport Commission.

The county has been working in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration for more than three years to get the project off the ground. Grants in the amount of 95 percent have enabled the county to pursue the airport with 5 percent local funding. Working with consultants Bucher, Willis and Ratliff Corp., the final design work is nearing completion, Kollman said. The next step will be to begin dirt work at the project site in preparation for construction of the runway.

Rooks County is home to two airport facilities -- one in Stockton and one in Plainville. Neither one, however, is equipped with a paved runway, so use is minimal, said Roger Hrabe, director of Rooks County Economic Development. It's hoped that a more usable facility would encourage residents and businesses to pursue a local option, Hrabe said, noting air travel is important for several of the county's largest employers. "Plus, from a future economic development standpoint, it's just another amenity that would help us attract a new industry," he said.

The transportation will not be commercial in nature. Kollman said the new airport is especially important for the newly constructed Rooks County Health Center.The county needs a place for aircraft to land in the event of a medical emergency transport, and air travel capabilities could help recruit specialists to visit the hospital on a regular basis, Kollman said. "Some people, it's difficult for them to perceive how an airport is going to improve their lives. But there's a lot of things that can happen as far as improved health care, helping businesses stay in western Kansas," Kollman said. "Better transportation is critical for all those things."

The county's goal is to construct a 5,000 foot-long paved runway, and FAA has agreed to help fund 4,600 feet of the project. Thus, the county plans to find a way to offset the additional costs, Hrabe said.

City governments also have thrown their support behind the project. The current airport facilities will be closed when the new airport is up and running, and the cities have pledged proceeds from land sales to benefit the countywide project, Hrabe said. The plan also is to lease property surrounding the future facility to help offset expenses, he said.

It's already been a long process, but it could be as long as five years before the entire dream becomes a reality, he said. Construction also will be completed in phases -- first the runway, followed by an airport terminal, hangars and taxiways. "The plans are to really have a first-class facility that has fueling capabilities, a terminal building so pilots, when they come in, they'll have a place to go," Hrabe said.

In tough economic times, it could be more difficult to come up with adequate funding for a project of this scope, but all indications suggest local and federal governments are committed to making the plans a reality, he said. "Once (the FAA) agreed to the purchase of the land, I think it essentially said they were committed to the project and making it happen," Hrabe said. "We feel like they are committed to seeing the project through. The question is when."

With an economic stimulus package coming out of Washington, the county also is waiting to see if and how the additional funds will affect the county's plans.

Hrabe also said it's important for progress to continue, and for economic development and the future of western Kansas to remain a priority. "The natural thing I think that people want to do is cut back," Hrabe said. "At the same time, there are going to be opportunities that are going to come about at times like these that need to be taken advantage of."