County board approves emergency funding for airport equipment

Following an equipment failure at the Cook County Airport, the Cook County Board of Commissioners has approved funds to assist the airport with an emergency replacement.

The county funding will help purchase a new truck for plowing and diesel fueling at the airport, and the board’s approval also opens the door to state funding, which will cover the bulk of the replacement cost. According to Commissioner Ann Sullivan, the old truck was over 20 years old.

The new truck is expected to cost roughly $60,000. The state emergency funding will cover 70% of that cost, but was contingent on the county agreeing to pay the other 30%, totaling about $18,000. Commissioner Ann Sullivan commented on the relatively low price for a new truck designed for heavy work, and explained that it would be purchased through MnDOT Aeronautics and Aviation.

The new truck will replace an old vehicle which would require an engine replacement in order to run again. Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers told the board that having the repairs done locally would be impossible to schedule in a timely manner. He added that with the new truck in operation, over time Airport Administrator Rodney Roy plans to repair the old vehicle, which could then serve as a backup.

Sullivan said that at this time, there is no backup equipment at the Cook County Airport.

Moving forward, Sullivan said that Highway Engineer Robbie Kimmel-Hass will work with the Airport Advisory Committee to create an equipment replacement schedule, like the one in existence for Highway Department vehicles.

There is money allocated for repairs in the budget for the Cook County Airport, and Powers said that some of the cost of the truck could come from the repairs budget.

The motion to approve the emergency county funding passed unanimously.

Kirsten Wisniewski February 28, 2026