MONROE - Monroe Airport Board of Management expects to open its new terminal to the public by December.
"A Christmas present for the city," said Tom Miller, board chairman.
The City of Monroe Plan Commission reviewed and voted 5 to 1 to approve the plans for the structure Wednesday. Tyler Schultz voted against the project. The Common Council is expected to vote on the project Jan. 15.
The new terminal - 1,650 square feet with a partial basement to house electrical controls - will be in the same location as the current structure. The building position takes advantage of the new parking lot and allows for expansion.
Plans include an optional 350-sq.ft. community meeting room with a separate entry.
Phil Rath, airport manager, said a meeting room was originally desired, but pulled out as a cost consideration, and then replaced as a bidding option.
"The state liked the meeting room," he said, "and wanted us to find a way to keep it in there."
Nate Klassy, a member of the Plan Commission, recalled the first airport office in the early 1960s was a 6-by-10 room attached to a hangar, with no bathroom. He encouraged the airport board to "keep the meeting room in" the plans.
The terminal exterior is expected to be patterned, precast concrete panels and stone veneer, with multiple large windows facing the runways.
The estimated total cost of the new terminal is about $600,000 to $650,000. About 94 percent is covered by federal funding through the state. The city will pay about $40,000, which is matched by state funds.
Federal funding, generated by aviation fuel taxes, produces about $150,000 per year for the airport, but the state determines which airport projects it will build each year.
Monroe has about $600,000 built up in reserves. Its new terminal building was one of three in the state approved last year, according to board members.
"Very rarely do you see money for structures," said Clarence Peters, airport board treasurer. "That's why the time to do it is now."
Tyler Schultz, a member of the Plan Commission, said he would prefer to see the money spent on other projects, such as infrastructures, hangars or runway upgrades, and to see the airport do more fund raising, besides its lot leases, hangar property taxes and fuel sales.
"(The terminal) is an asset for economic development," he said after the meeting, "but it's more to subsidize a (flying) hobby."
As a safety consideration, the state always gives runways first priority for its funded projects, board members said.
The Monroe Airport "runways and ramp are in good shape," Peters said. "That's why we can utilize this money."
"A Christmas present for the city," said Tom Miller, board chairman.
The City of Monroe Plan Commission reviewed and voted 5 to 1 to approve the plans for the structure Wednesday. Tyler Schultz voted against the project. The Common Council is expected to vote on the project Jan. 15.
The new terminal - 1,650 square feet with a partial basement to house electrical controls - will be in the same location as the current structure. The building position takes advantage of the new parking lot and allows for expansion.
Plans include an optional 350-sq.ft. community meeting room with a separate entry.
Phil Rath, airport manager, said a meeting room was originally desired, but pulled out as a cost consideration, and then replaced as a bidding option.
"The state liked the meeting room," he said, "and wanted us to find a way to keep it in there."
Nate Klassy, a member of the Plan Commission, recalled the first airport office in the early 1960s was a 6-by-10 room attached to a hangar, with no bathroom. He encouraged the airport board to "keep the meeting room in" the plans.
The terminal exterior is expected to be patterned, precast concrete panels and stone veneer, with multiple large windows facing the runways.
The estimated total cost of the new terminal is about $600,000 to $650,000. About 94 percent is covered by federal funding through the state. The city will pay about $40,000, which is matched by state funds.
Federal funding, generated by aviation fuel taxes, produces about $150,000 per year for the airport, but the state determines which airport projects it will build each year.
Monroe has about $600,000 built up in reserves. Its new terminal building was one of three in the state approved last year, according to board members.
"Very rarely do you see money for structures," said Clarence Peters, airport board treasurer. "That's why the time to do it is now."
Tyler Schultz, a member of the Plan Commission, said he would prefer to see the money spent on other projects, such as infrastructures, hangars or runway upgrades, and to see the airport do more fund raising, besides its lot leases, hangar property taxes and fuel sales.
"(The terminal) is an asset for economic development," he said after the meeting, "but it's more to subsidize a (flying) hobby."
As a safety consideration, the state always gives runways first priority for its funded projects, board members said.
The Monroe Airport "runways and ramp are in good shape," Peters said. "That's why we can utilize this money."