WILLMAR -- The Federal Aviation Administration is requiring the city to perform an archaeological and cultural assessment of old hangar sites before the city can release the former airport for industrial development.
Willmar city officials learned in an FAA letter dated Oct. 2 about the assessment requirement as a follow-up to a previous environmental assessment worksheet.
The FAA has requested the city perform the assessment at the site of the old airport terminal and fixed-base operator building, and to perform an environmental audit to determine the existence of any hazardous material, wastes or substances.
City Council members Monday night voted to proceed with the work, but not without making a few chuckles about people sifting airport sand.
The council approved a $4,500 proposal from Bolton and Menk of Willmar to perform the archaeological assessment. The work will be paid through the local option sales tax account set up to develop the old airport into an industrial park.
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Also, the council approved a proposal from Glacial Lakes Environmental Consulting Inc. of Willmar to perform the environmental soils assessment, at a cost not to exceed $2,875.
Mayor Les Heitke asked why the city will be studying two old hangars made out of cement block. "There is nothing else out there,'' he said.
Bruce Peterson, director of planning and economic development, said the FAA requires the survey be done over the site where the old hangars were removed and where the former terminal and FBO building sit.
"It's a federal regulation to release the federal airport funding. They will do historical research, field surveys; look for anything out of the ordinary. They do history of land use on the site, study aerial photos,'' he said.
Council member Ron Christianson said the studies are frivolous, "but we can't move forward without it.''
Council member Doug Reese said the Public Works/Safety Committee had some discussion about the requirement "and even a couple of chuckles as we discussed the possibility of guys crawling around on their knees with little sifters, sifting sand. It's a hoop that we have to jump through. It seems frivolous.''
"Staff shares the council's concern,'' Peterson said.
In related business, the council voted to transfer about $2,500 from the airport professional services fund to the capital improvement fund to install four additional surge protectors on the fuel system at the new airport to protect the system from lightning strikes. Public Works Director Mel Odens said the city has spent $13,000 repairing damage from several lightning strikes. He didn't know why the strikes occur. He said lightning wasn't a problem at the old airport.
