MONROE - With some influence from a local corporation, the Monroe Municipal Airport may see its upcoming runway project finished earlier than anticipated.
Currently, the plan is to have a completed runway in 2020, Airport Manager Rob Driver said. The larger of the two airstrips has not been majorly overhauled in roughly 30 years, which Monroe Common Council members noted during their meeting Tuesday makes the project past due.
The largest runway is utilized by businesses throughout the area, including Colony Brands Inc, which recently ceased use of the airport because of the deterioration of the runway.
Nick Colombe, director of operations with Colony company SC Aviation, spoke before council Tuesday and voiced a hope that the project be completed as quickly as possible because the cracks in the pavement have left the business no choice but to utilize the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport in Rock County.
"Due to the cracks in the runway surface ... basically blew the nitrogen out of the shock absorbers," Colombe said. "We've had several instances occur in other airplanes."
Colombe advocated for acceleration of the project timeline, which City Administrator Phil Rath said may be effective.
"You get enough influence at the state level, that moves the project up in the queue," Rath said.
While the city supports the $2 million project, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation oversees the timeline. The council voted unanimously to petition the department secretary for state aid. Plans dictate that Monroe pay a sum of $50,000 next year and again in 2019, making the city's total contribution $100,000, or 5 percent.
Some patchwork has been done, but Driver said it has deteriorated yet again. Colombe said because of the dangers rolling over cracks at high speed can pose, Colony Brands "elected to cease use of the runway." Though the smaller airstrip can be used by company planes, prevailing winds usually affect their ability to land, forcing them to the Janesville airport.
With the loss of the business buying jet fuel, Driver noted sales of the gasoline had dropped roughly 10,000 gallons in 2017. And while the airport has seen an above average amount of other fuel sales this year, it would have been "a boom year" if jet fuel sales had not fallen below average.
Driver said the project is still preemptive and a positive step because of the funding source. If the city were to wait, authorities could require a replacement, which would be an out-of-pocket expense.
Currently, the plan is to have a completed runway in 2020, Airport Manager Rob Driver said. The larger of the two airstrips has not been majorly overhauled in roughly 30 years, which Monroe Common Council members noted during their meeting Tuesday makes the project past due.
The largest runway is utilized by businesses throughout the area, including Colony Brands Inc, which recently ceased use of the airport because of the deterioration of the runway.
Nick Colombe, director of operations with Colony company SC Aviation, spoke before council Tuesday and voiced a hope that the project be completed as quickly as possible because the cracks in the pavement have left the business no choice but to utilize the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport in Rock County.
"Due to the cracks in the runway surface ... basically blew the nitrogen out of the shock absorbers," Colombe said. "We've had several instances occur in other airplanes."
Colombe advocated for acceleration of the project timeline, which City Administrator Phil Rath said may be effective.
"You get enough influence at the state level, that moves the project up in the queue," Rath said.
While the city supports the $2 million project, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation oversees the timeline. The council voted unanimously to petition the department secretary for state aid. Plans dictate that Monroe pay a sum of $50,000 next year and again in 2019, making the city's total contribution $100,000, or 5 percent.
Some patchwork has been done, but Driver said it has deteriorated yet again. Colombe said because of the dangers rolling over cracks at high speed can pose, Colony Brands "elected to cease use of the runway." Though the smaller airstrip can be used by company planes, prevailing winds usually affect their ability to land, forcing them to the Janesville airport.
With the loss of the business buying jet fuel, Driver noted sales of the gasoline had dropped roughly 10,000 gallons in 2017. And while the airport has seen an above average amount of other fuel sales this year, it would have been "a boom year" if jet fuel sales had not fallen below average.
Driver said the project is still preemptive and a positive step because of the funding source. If the city were to wait, authorities could require a replacement, which would be an out-of-pocket expense.