Council moves

forward with

expansion of

airport runway

Authorizes talks

between staff

and consulting firm

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The City Council took the first big step toward lengthening the Municipal Airport runway Tuesday when it authorized discussion between city staff and consulting firm Mead and Hunt regarding airport improvements.

The council also gave the go-ahead to another Ridgeway-on-German style facility built to cater to senior citizens that would be on land bounded by 23rd North Street, Hoffman Street and a future, as yet unnamed, boundary street in North Ridge Addition.

Airport expansion

The keystone of the airport project is the proposed lengthening of the existing 4,401-foot runway to 5,000 feet, according to City Engineer Steve Koehler.

Expansion proponents say the additional 599 feet will be instrumental in attracting industrial development to New Ulm because it will accommodate the larger, modern executive jets.

Council President Dan Beranek said the first task for the consultant will be interviewing businesses in New Ulm to determine the need for such expansion.

Housing development

President Paul H. Abzup, representing Housing Alternatives Development Company of Deephaven, told the council his firm plans to build a single apartment building with a total of 55 units, "4-6 of which will be two-bedroom units with the rest being one-bedroom units."

The proposed unit would provide services similar to those provided at Ridgeway-on-German, which also is owned and operated by Abzup's firm. Abzup said his firm has plans for future expansion, based on demand, at the site, limited to one-level "quads," four units to a quad.

In other action:

* City Manager Brian Gramentz asked councilors to by-pass the agenda item calling for a second reading of the ordinance that would bring about 14 acres of land owned by Sunset Properties in Milford Township into the city. He said the action is awaiting a report from the Planning Commission and was "inadvertently" added to Tuesday's agenda.

* The council approved the requested variances and rezoned the property from Agricultural Residence District (R-A) to Multiple Family Residence District (R-3).

* The council set a public hearing date of Aug. 5, at 4 p.m., on a liquor law violation that occurred recently at the Holiday Inn.

* The council set a public hearing date of Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. on a request from Shelly and Daniel Winter to annex their land, described as Lot 3, Block 1, Korth's Subdivision, amounting to 2.78 acres.