The Wadena City Council approved a plan to expand the airport taxiway, but won't spend any money on an engineering agreement until federal funds are released for the project.
Wadena has $600,000 in federal funds "banked" in Washington for airport projects, explained City Administrator Brad Swenson, with another $150,000 expected this year. While the federal government has allocated this money for Wadena, it has only authorized the release of 35 percent of the money. The city also has money tied up in reciprocity agreements with other cities, which amount to loaning designated federal funds to other cities for repayment later.
Swenson said the project still looks good, but until the feds green-light the money, we'll have to wait.
"We have to play the game and wait until the money is available," Swenson said.
The project will be 95 percent funded through federal money, and 5 percent paid locally. The city's share of the $360,000 would be $18,000.
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Several people in attendance at the Jan. 13 city council meeting voiced support. Wadena resident G.P. Anderson said trying to taxi on the runway while monitoring traffic would become much easier with the taxiway extension.
"It's a safety feature that would benefit the city and the airport," he said.
Swenson said the city council would have to talk at an upcoming meeting about how it would produce its share of the funds.
