Jasper County denies Des Moines airport’s $500K request for new terminal

None of the Jasper County supervisors were in favor of giving four, annual payments of $125,000 to the more than $575 million terminal expansion project at Des Moines International Airport, citing their federal stimulus money could be better spent elsewhere in the region.

After tabling the issue last week, the board of supervisors voted 3-0 to deny the $500,000 request from the state’s largest airport at its Feb. 1 meeting.

Supervisor Doug Cupples understands why the airport would ask for a half-million dollars, but in the same respects he said the county’s American Rescue Plan Act funds belong to the taxpayers. Supervisor Denny Carpenter argued the county can do “more with that money here at home than we can at that airport.”

Kevin Foley, executive director of the Des Moines International Airport, attended the board of supervisors meeting in-person on Jan. 25 to pitch his idea to the county. The project would expand the road around the airport, construct a new parking structure and expand the airport’s existing terminal.

Construction could begin as early as 2024, Foley said. Although funds requested from the county would only cover less than 0.1 percent of the total costs, the gesture is more to show local participation and investment in the project so the airport can receive additional funding from the state and federal governments.

The expansion project was motivated by a 67 percent growth in passenger traffic from 2009 to 2019, Foley said. Since the pandemic passenger traffic has slowed down. But the airport is currently operating around 90 percent of the traffic seen in 2019, which doesn’t include business travelers.

The airport has already completed a new entryway and began the preliminary design process for a new parking garage. But even when Foley first pitched the expansion project and Jasper County’s possible involvement, supervisors were hesitant to commit because of the high expense.

“My opinion is leaning towards no at the moment,” Talsma said. “...I think the county’s money is better spent on Jasper County projects. (Committing) $125,000 a year is two more deputies for our sheriff’s department or $125,000 worth of gravel road projects.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com