By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Runway enhancements and an expansion of several hanger areas are among the improvements eyed in a long-range planning document for the East Troy Municipal Airport.
The Village Board on Aug. 4 adopted a resolution that sets in motion a tentative six-year capital improvement plan for the airport, 2085 Highway L. Aviation enthusiasts throughout the region use the long-running amenity annually.
“This is a document that gets batted around from time-to-time,” Village President Randy Timms said. “This represents our wish list. It is not set in stone.”
Absent from the capital improvement plan was the projected cost of each line item, and the important detail could drastically alter when each expense is actually put into motion.
Next year, village officials are hoping to have design work completed for an anticipated parallel taxiway and hanger ramp reconstruction project. If all goes as planned, the actual construction itself could also take place in 2015.
Several projects are under consideration in 2016, including the purchase of new mowing equipment for the property. Also, officials are hoping to undertake the construction of an aviation mechanic shop within the SRE building.
Further down the line, officials are considering a justification and feasibility study of a possible runway extension in 2017.
Rounding out the long-range list is the possible expansion of the airport’s south hanger area, which could take place from 2018 to 2020.
While the long-range plan is helpful in budget planning, East Troy officials emphasized there are other reasons for going through the exercise periodically.
State statutes require airport owners compile a list of planned improvements if state or federal financial aid is sought to undertake any of the projects. While no formal petition is being sent for government assistance at this point, the document opens the door to such a possibility.
In the months ahead, the state Department of Transportation and Bureau of Aeronautics will review East Troy’s plans.
