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Williamson Airport closer to getting terminal

By Codell Rodriguez, The Southern

Friday, August 29, 2008 11:54 AM CDT

MARION - It's only the first step in a long process, but a new grant from the Federal Aviation Administration makes Williamson County Regional Airport one step closer to a new terminal.

The airport received a grant worth $199,931 from the FAA to pay off land acquisitions and to design a terminal building. Manager Doug Kimmel said about $160,000 of the grant will go toward the land. The rest is to start financial planning for the terminal.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, who is also chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, said in a news release that the grant would help keep the airport on top of its game.

"This award will assist Williamson County Airport Authority in acquiring and developing the resources necessary to provide quality service for the air travelers in Southern Illinois," Costello said.

Manager Doug Kimmel said the land paid for is east of the terminal and will make room for growth and keep the airport land from shrinking.

"It was to ensure compatible development and to ensure that nothing was built to interfere with airport operations," Kimmel said.

Kimmel said the new terminal will eventually be west of the current building. With it being built in 1972, Kimmel said the terminal is far past its prime. When Allegiant Air announced they would offer non-stop flights to and from Las Vegas in October 2007, the airport had to place a double-wide trailer next to the terminal to ensure enough room for arriving and departing passengers. However, Allegiant canceled the deal shortly thereafter.

"Even though Allegiant Air didn't follow through with their plan, it pointed out the limitations of the terminal," Kimmel said.

He said when the building was erected, the design was more about being aesthetically pleasing than utile.

But the design for the new terminal is still a long way away, Kimmel said, and they will worry about it when the can afford to.

"That would be a whole other grant in itself," Kimmel said.

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com/351-5804