Monona to put airport up for sale
By Audrey Posten, Times-Reigster
The Monona City Council, at its April 17 regular meeting, approved putting the Monona Municipal Airport up for sale.
The idea has been broached multiple times over the past few years, as the airport board has worked to improve its finances amid declining use of the space. When the airport was last discussed at a February meeting, it was noted that just one airplane—which belongs to the airport manager—remains.
News last week that the airport would receive a reduced rental price for its hay ground, paired with a bid to charge the city an amount of $4,000 this year to mow and weed eat the remaining grounds, prompted the council to take action.
Although the city could mow the property itself, a trailer would have to be purchased to haul the mower back and forth, said city administrator Barb Collins.
“We’re going backwards,” said council member John Elledge, who made the motion. “That was the original agreement we had with them: ‘Hey, you need to at least be sustainable.’ You’re no longer sustainable.”
“It’s not making us money when we start looking at the mowing fees,” he added.
The airport sale received unanimous support from the council. Collins will begin working with city attorney Greg Schiller on the sale process, which will be done via sealed bid.
With the property up for sale, mowing will be discontinued. The city said the renter can still continue harvesting the hay crop, however.
