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3.0 AIRPORT HISTORY, ROLE AND RELATIONSHIP IN SYSTEM PLANS <br />3.1 History of Gateway North Industrial Airport <br />In the very early 1970's, a group of local businessmen and <br />also members of the Anoka Chamber of Commerce set out to <br />promote and establish an Industrial Park in the then <br />Township of Ramsey. Along with that Industrial Site <br />development concept came an expressed need from several <br />businesses for an aircraft landing strip. An airfield <br />located across from Mercy Hospital had been closed and area <br />pilots expressed a desire for another field to base <br />aircraft. <br />Property was purchased in Ramsey Township by the group of <br />' businessmen calling themselves the Anoka Industrial Park <br />Corporation in 1971. The land purchased is generally <br />located north of the Burlington- Northern Railroad tracks, <br />' east of County Road 56, west of County 57 and south of the <br />present County Road 116. The original purchase was for <br />approximately 400 acres of land. <br />Within a portion of the original land purchase, an airport <br />was laid out in 1972. It is the present site with little or <br />no improvement since the original construction. The airport <br />consists of a soft surface main and crosswind runway, with <br />2500 feet and 2365 feet runway, respectively. <br />The Dickinson Bus Company was the first business to use and <br />promote the airport along with Holley Industries (now Mate <br />Tool & Die), Dr. M.J. Mylrea, Howe Fertilizer and United <br />Power Association. <br />Anoka Aero, Inc. was formed to operate the airport and the <br />first Fixed Base Operator (FBO) was hired the same year as <br />the construction of the field. John Siebert was the FBO at <br />the field from 1972 -1978. Mr. Siebert initiated a flight <br />school which increased the airport use and its popularity <br />with local private pilots. <br />The Anoka Vocational Technical Institute moved to the air- <br />port for the purposes of establishing a school for flight <br />controller and other relative aviation job training. Ground <br />school for future pilots is also available through AVTI at <br />the site. There are presently four classroom buildings on <br />the site owned by the school. <br />During peak activity the airport had 30 based aircraft. <br />Recent recession years have reduced the activity and use of <br />the airport. Competition for gas sales, hangar availability <br />and rental and aircraft rental reduced the local attractive- <br />ness of the airport. The "dirt" runway is a cause for valid <br />concerns by aircraft owners about propeller damage due to <br />loose soil and runway serviceability year 'round. <br />3 -1 <br />