The Perry Airport continues to make progress on an important improvement.

City Administrator Sven Peterson says one of the larger processes to date has been working with the Federal Aviation Administration and the US Army Corps of Engineers because the 1,500 foot runway extension is going through a wetland. 

“So we’re trying to work with both parties to make everybody happy to be able to get our wetland permit. Because we have to buy wetland credits from another area that’s developed wetlands to offset these wetlands. So that was a process. We’re able to work with both of those agencies and they worked with each other really well.”   

Peterson points out the grading work is being done now so that the ground is settled before the concrete contractor, Manatts, returns in the spring to pave the runway extension, which will bring the total for the entire runway to 5,500 feet. 

The Perry City Council recently approved the twelve pay application of $54,808 to Wenthold Excavating for the first phase of the road relocation part of the project, as well as approving the seventh pay application to Manatts for $58,105.