Upgrading and construction of county-wide airport progressing; Kick-off meeting held
from the Plainville Times

Approximately 30 people attended the kickoff meeting for the proposed Rooks County Regional Airport on October 12, 2004 at the Rooks County Health Department meeting room.  Conducted by Brad Weisenburger, project manager for Bucher, Willis, and Ratliff, the meeting was intended on giving the public the opportunity to hear plans for the airport expansion and to voice their concerns.  Weisenburger told the group that a number of things will enter into the decision making process of an airport for the county.

He said the FAA is interested to learn whether an improved facility will spur activity here, and whether the people in the area are willing to lead the charge in this quest.  Weisenburger described the intended process of the airport project, and discussed the six stages in which the project will progress. He stated that although the airport project approach and schedule indicate a time frame of 270 days from the kickoff meeting to submitting the final report to the FAA, there could be items along the way that slow down the process.  

An airport commission has been formed with Leonard Bristow-Damar, Chris Kollman-Stockton, Jim Circle-Woodston, Ron Werner-Plainville, and Roger Hrabe being the members appointed by the county commission.

The growing need for mobility and usage for business trips by local companies has re-ignited discussions for the upgrade. Hrabe reported originally the City of Stockton began work to expand and upgrade their current airport however, due to geographic considerations it was determined it would limit any future use of Stockton Industrial Park, and even with partial funding for the project through a grant, the local portion of funding would be significant.

It was discovered in the 1970's FAA had compiled a detailed report on whether the current Plainville or Stockton would be an adequate site to expand. Electrical high lines, highways and terrain all presented concerns. At that time a third location between Plainville and Stockton was designated as a more desirable site.

While the application process through the FAA is lengthy and complicated, Hrabe and the committee are concluding it would be worth the additional effort and time. The FAA would pay for approximately 95% of the cost of the project, with the local governments picking up the remaining 5%.  Whether the proposed site would end up at an existing airport site or a new site, work would be extensive.

By going through the FAA process, which has begun, it is estimated the project will take approximately five years from the initial application to completion of the paved runway.