By Bonnie Culverhouse

Applying for, receiving and using grant money is freeing up American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to allow City of Minden to expand projects that were going to require cutbacks. One of those is airport expansion.

Mayor Nick Cox said one of the money-making aspects of the airport is the ability to rent hangars.

“We wanted to build three new box hangars, then it looked like we were going to have to cut it back to two,” Cox said. “Now, with grant money to help with other projects, we may be able to add that third hangar back in the project.”

Cox explained there are quite a few rules attached to building projects.

“Everything is governed by six or seven different factors,” he said. “You can only build a certain amount of square footage before you get into an extreme fire marshal situation where you must have a water system, plumbing – which can double the cost of your project. It’s a fine line you can’t cross.”

However, Cox said airport hangars is one place where the city can spend money as if it were a business and realize profit from rentals and fuel sales.

Cox said he would like to build one 60 by 60 box unit and one 60 by 80.

“If money permits that third unit, it will be 60 by 60,” he said.

The current single T hangar units rent for around $200. Renting more hangars means selling more fuel to those who take off and land in the Minden Airport.