How much busier might the Flandreau Municipal Airport become if its runway were lengthened, hangar space expanded, and facilities upgraded to accommodate larger planes?
The discussion has lingered for years as the aging runway continues to deteriorate, forcing potential fly-in business to choose other airports.
A federal grant, years in the making, was approved in 2023 to fund improvements. However, progress hinges on finalizing a stalled land deal. For over a year, city officials have been negotiating with a neighboring landowner to acquire land needed for the expansion. Talks have been lengthy, as both sides work toward an agreement on price per acre.
City representatives recently met with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials to receive guidance on completing the purchase.
“Hopefully a deal is imminent and everybody will be happy,” said Brad Bjerke, head of the Airport Committee.
The city aims to purchase approximately 54 acres of land from the Henry Family Trust for the project. This expansion will enable a larger and safer runway.

“The process for purchasing land in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration is not a process that typically moves quickly,” said City Administrator Cohl Turnquist.
“The City was required to hire both an appraiser and a review appraiser to determine the value of the needed property, which took several months to complete. Once the City had an appraised value, the City made their initial offer to the property owners, following processes established by the FAA.”
With the original offer rejected by the neighboring landowner, ongoing negotiations have followed.
“Once we reached a point where we believed we were at an impasse with the property owners, the City Council voted to initiate condemnation proceedings,” Turnquist explained.
“Since that time, the City has received an offer from the property owners that may be acceptable to both the City and the FAA. The City is coordinating with the FAA to determine the steps necessary to finalize a purchase agreement and move forward with the project.”
City officials are optimistic a purchase agreement will be finalized this month or early next.
And because of the delays, the FAA may now cover 95% of the project costs, up from the usual 90%, reducing the City’s share to just 2.5%.
To date, the delays have not cost the City any significant resources, aside from legal fees to initiate condemnation.
Still, some on the council remain skeptical about committing additional city funds, arguing the project’s potential benefits may not justify its costs. The project has been a contentious topic for several council members — as some still question the need for the upgrades given the limited traffic the airport currently sees.
The current timeline includes purchasing the land this month, completing design work in 2025, and starting construction in 2026.
“The Council is committed to completing this project,” Turnquist said.