Funding paves way for smooth landing

(Photo by Russ Mitchell) Paul Cobler, a line service specialist and flight instructor for Leading Edge Aviation, on Friday fuels a plane owned by Iowa Lakes Community College. Aircrafts, like the Piper Arrow PA28RT-201 will have a smoother north-and-south runway to land on, with some upgrades planned for the current construction season. [Order this photo]

Federal funding came through for an extensive improvement project at that Northwest Iowa Regional Airport.

U.S. Senators Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley announced a $153,614 grant for the city of Spencer to make repairs at the airport's shorter, north-and-south runway.

"These funds will help improve the safety and service provided by the Spencer Municipal Airport," Grassley said.

Harkin is a senior member of the Senate panel that funds transportation initiatives.

"Maintaining a quality airport is important to the economic health of a community, because the availability of a nearby airport is a valuable asset that can help draw new businesses," said Harkin, who has met with constituents about home heating expenses at the Spencer airport on previous occasions. "I am pleased that the Spencer airport will receive this important investment and I look forward to the improvements it will generate."

Spencer Airport Board chairman Tim Steffen said the work was part of the group's capital improvement plan.

"The program we've been working on the last two or three years has been what they call crack sealing or joint sealing," he explained. "In order to prolong the life of our runway pavements and taxi-way pavements, we come out with a saw, dig out the old tar that's in the old joints and replace it with new tar. That helps prevent water from getting into the joints and causing the concrete to crack up."

The grant was awarded in the amount of $153,614, but since many grants aren't fully funded at the amounts announced, the city expects to get about $128,407 for the improvements, according to Spencer Public Works Director Mark White.

The work should be completed during the current construction season, with a mindful eye toward the schedule of events at the airport

"We're trying to avoid, obviously, the flight breakfast," Steffen said of a Flagfest celebration highlight.

The Spencer airport has a good reputation among pilots. White and Steffen both credited the efforts of the late Al Schmidt, who was the airport board's longest serving member and an expert on concrete surfacing.

"He was a very valuable resource," White said.