DeKalb-Taylor Municipal Airport will have expanded, safer runway facilities soon with the help of about $5.5 million in federal and state monies.

Plans include extending the runway in the summer of 1989 and building a second east-west runway south of the present runway by fiscal year 1993. This is in addition to the new 20,000 square foot office and hangar building under construction.

About 90 percent of the money will come from federal sources, with the state and city each paying five percent.

DeKalb City Manager Mark Stevens said DeKalb-Taylor will get more government dollars over the next few years than any other airport in the state. However, it will not be as large as Aurora or DuPage airports. “You won’t see Ozark (Airlines) landing” at DeKalb-Taylor, he said.

Before construction of the second runway begins in the early 90s however, the city will have to get more land south of the airport. The land is used for agriculture.

Neither Stevens nor Tom Lindquist, an engineer employed by the city, could provide figures on how much land will be needed.

Lindquist did say the city will be dealing with more than one owner.

Lindquist said the airport expansion is not expected to attract much extra air traffic, but is intended to increase safety at the airport.

Extending the runway also will allow R&M Aviation Inc., DeKalb’s only fixed base operator, and GTE Earphone, a corporate user of the airport, to operate their aircraft at full capacity.

GTE Earphone services air-to-ground communications gear across the country and have five twin-engine Cessna airplanes based at the airport.

Mark Jenny, GTE Earphone maintenance director, said their airplanes cannot take off fully loaded on hot and humid days when more speed is required to generate enough lift to get off the ground.

Both companies will start renting space in the new office and hangar building from the city early next year when construction is finished. Work on the building began Monday and a ground breaking ceremony is planned for 0ct. 12 at 5 p.m.

GTE Earphone moved from DuPage Airport to DeKalb-Taylor about six months ago and employs nine people. Jenny said DeKalb’s low traffic volume and the maintenance service provided by R&M were the two major reasons they decided to relocate.

Jenny said the airport expansion “can only enhance” their operations.

The marshland around the airport is not expected to hinder construction or add much cost to the project.