To meet FAA standards for larger corporate aircraft, the current 4,200-foot Arens Field runway needs to be extended to 5,005 feet (an additional 805 feet), and adjacent property must be acquired, approximately 40 acres, to clear obstructions and provide a buffer space along the runway and at both ends. In addition, the proposed expansion for the runway would require a partial closure of CR 100 W, in addition to the acquisition of adjacent farmland, and some woodland.

The purpose of Thursday's public hearing was actually to provide information on the environmental assessment of the project. Mark Shillington of Indianapolis, an engineer with Woolpert Engineering, a consultant on the proposed project was present at the hearing to answer questions, along with colleague Maria Muia.

Also present at the hearing were the county commissioners, several members of the county council and the county aviation board, members of the county economic development commission, and other county office holders.

Ralph Braun, CEO of Braun Corporation, was also present. The company has been reported as among those requesting the runway extension project to allow their aircraft to operate at full capacity. Ms. Muia of the Woolpert firm explained in her presentations to visitors that while some of the larger corporate planes can land and take off at Arens Field, they cannot do so at full fuel or payload capacity, a serious economic consideration.

After the proposal was brought before the commissioners in March, many property owners in the airport neighborhood have appeared before the commissioners, the county council and the Winamac Town Board to protest the proposed expansion, expressing concerns about the road closure, the loss of agriculture revenue, possible reduction in land values, doubts about economic need or sufficient air traffic to merit the expansion, and the possibility of increased taxes, among other issues.

Perhaps the majority of those who attended the hearing are opposed to the project. They include neighboring farmers who would not only lose farm ground, but many would also have to re-align irrigation systems. Among those arguing on behalf of agriculture against the project is Kevin Wyatt who pointed out Pulaski County's significance in state agriculture income. They are asking county officials to remember the county's farm heritage. The Wyatts also reside near the airport.

Rick and Becky Dilts of Winamac, and son Derrick has also spoken out against the runway extension which, if completed as proposed, will cut into sentimental family recreational property held and used for generations for family gatherings.

Chris Smith of Winamac is another vocal opponent of the project and lives near the airport and the Wyatts. The closure of CR 100W would cut off the most direct route from Winamac to her home. But she is more concerned about what she and others perceive as the loss of property value to friends and neighbors who live closer to the area of the runway extension. She further charges that grant writers for the project used false numbers to inflate the amount of air traffic at the airport

Shillington of the Woolpert firm acknowledges that figures used for the grant were older - not false - taken from the years around 2007 when usage was higher at Arens Field. Since 2008, air traffic numbers have fallen off at the Winamac airport, as well as neighboring airports such as Starke and Fulton, due to harder economic times.

When approaching the county commissioners to propose the runway expansion project in March, aviation board president Jim McDaniel told them that grants would pay up to 97 percent of the project. The cost has been estimated at $2.6 million. Plans for future expansion of the runway have apparently existed for some time, according to some county officials. But in recent months the county airport association board has been approached about expanding the Arens Field runway which would allow larger corporate aircraft to land at the airport without jeopardizing their insurance.

No definite time-line has yet been set for the project, and more meetings of county officials will take place to discuss the issue. Woolpert also has more steps to complete in wrapping up specs for the project. However, rough estimates place construction beginning in 2014.