Land parcel to be acquired for runway project

CLINTONVILLE – The Clintonville Common Council approved the purchase of a parcel of land owned by Murphy Construction (MCC) for the 14/32 Runway project at Clintonville Municipal Airport.
The approval came at the council’s March 10 meeting.
According a March 3 memo from Clintonville City Administrator Caz Muske, the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics (BOA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) “strongly recommended” that the city move forward with acquiring the MCC parcel of land.
“The BOA will continue serving as project lead, working directly with the City’s airport engineering consultant, Westwood Professional Services, to navigate property easements, appraisal and acquisition processes, grant compliance requirements, and environmental documentation steps,” Muske said in the memo.
The MCC parcel of land is located directly beneath the approach and departure surface for Runway 14/32. Because of that, aircrafts frequently occupy this airspace when landing and departing.

“Due to its location, sufficient control over land use and object height is critical,” Muske said in the memo.
According to the memo, “land acquisition is a common and anticipated component of federally funded airport improvement projects. Adjustments such as land acquisitions are built into overall project cost structures.”
“The City of Clintonville is responsible for only 5% of eligible project costs, making this a highly advantageous opportunity to secure long-term control of critical airspace protection land at minimal local expense,” Muske said in the memo.
Muske also stated in the memo that acquiring the parcel of land will protect approach and departure surfaces, preserve future runway and instrument approach flexibility, align with FAA and BOA best practices, prevent incompatible development, secure land while a willing seller is present, and maximize outside funding participation.