AMENDING CHAPTER 6 OF THE SAUK COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, HIGHWAYS, AIRPORTS, BRIDGES, DITCHES, AND FENCES, TO INCLUDE SUBCHAPTER VI, TRI-COUNTY AIRPORT OPERATION, AND REPEALING SAUK COUNTY CODE, CHAPTER 40, OPERATION OF THE TRI-COUNTY AIRPORT

Background:  In order to improve organization and usability, the Sauk County Code of Ordinances will be condensed over time to ten chapters with defined subject matters. Chapter 6, has been reorganized to contain provisions regarding Highways, Airports, Bridges, Ditches, and Fences. This implementing ordinance repeals Chapter 40, Operation of the Tri-County Airport, and amends Chapter 6 to include the addition of Subch. VI, Tri-County Airport Operation, which pursuant to Wis. Stat. §§ 114.11 through 114.151 provides for establishing airport operation policies and land use within the boundaries of the Tri-County Airport. 

In 2018, the Economic Development Committee asked the Administrative Coordinator to work with Richland and Iowa Counties to discuss ways to improve the operation of the Tri-County Airport. In 2018, Richland County did not budget the full requested amount for the Tri-County Airport. Due to this, some updates were not accomplished.  In addition, Iowa County was concerned about needed airport upgrades and their future liability for those upgrades. In meeting with the two counties, the parties agreed that the Ordinance needed updating to clarify the working relationship. The attached updates are the results of those efforts. The updates include the requirement that the three counties budget the full amount requested from the Tri-County Airport Commission, including capital improvements. It lays out a process for giving up ownership of the Tri-County Airport. The ordinance also provides for the largest user of the Airport to be a voting member of the Commission.  It requires Sauk County to pay 49% of the budget moving forward while also obtaining 49% of the vote on the Commission. This is due to the Tri-County Airport’s location within Sauk County and its much larger equalized value. Flooding issues are addressed in this Ordinance and a further agreement will be forthcoming.