Municipal airport projects to receive grants

MT. PLEASANT — The Mt. Pleasant City Council approved Mayor Steve Brimhall signing an agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for grants going toward improvements at the Mt. Pleasant Municipal Airport during the Sept. 25 meeting.

According to City Administrator Brent Schleisman, these grants are just part of the funding they wish to acquire in order to extend the airport’s taxiway, add storage space for the apron, and add a new hangar.

“So, we could have as many as half a dozen to a dozen different grants at various times. These are two to get things off and running,” Schleisman explained.

Brimhall stated that some grants from federal levels will provide up to 90% toward these projects, but the grants accepted at last week’s city council meeting come from the state level, so they provide a lower percentage.

The first grant will provide 70% funding up to $292,000 for the taxiway and apron projects. The second will provide 69% up to $45,600 for the hangar structural improvements.

“It's not as good, but once you put them all together, it's pretty hard not to accept and it,” Brimhall said.

Brimhall expressed his gratitude to Schleisman for his hard work on obtaining these grants, which take quite a bit of time to get together, but overall, “saves a lot of money for the taxpayer and keeps our airport vibrant, which it is, very vibrant, right now.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com