An extension of the county airport near Devil Track Lake is still in the works, and federal dollars continue to be made available for it. According to airport manager Rod Roy, a federal grant for survey work needs to be spent this year in order to avoid losing out on close to $80,000. Thework is necessary for the runway project to go forward.
On Tuesday, July 20, 2010, the county board approved a grant agreement for funding of the survey and gave county Auditor- Treasurer Braidy Powers the go-ahead to sign a professional services agreement for the work to be done.
The grant amount of $75,403.72 covers 95% of the project’s cost, with Cook County paying a 5% match of $4,021.25.
Roy reported that one airport commissioner, William Haas, moved out of the county and will need to be replaced on the airport commission.
County Commissioner Fritz Sobanja mentioned that a plane had been flying up and down the Lake Superior shoreline the week before, and numerous people had asked him if he knew who it was and what they were doing.
Roy said he had heard various theories regarding the plane but was finally told by a reliable source that it had been a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration plane taking water depth readings along the shoreline to update its maps. Aircraft such as this do not necessarily notify the airport of what they are doing in the area. They did not stop at the Cook County Airport to refuel while they were here.
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