Kenosha---Gateway Technical College may have finally found a workable location for a track to train drivers of emergency vehicles.
A proposal to put the facility on eight acres of out-of-the-way land in the far southeast corner of the Kenosha Regional Airport got a warm reception at Wednesday's meeting of the Kenosha Airport Commission. "I couldn't think of a better use for that part of the airport," said Commission Chairman Steve Bostrom after hearing a presentation from Gateway officials.
The search for a new track began several years ago when it became apparent that Gateway needed to prepare for the day when it no longer could use the empty parking lot at the now-defunct Dairyland Greyhound Park. But a voter referendum to fund a new track failed. More recently, a plan to build the track on empty land at UW-Parkside went up in flames when neighbors objected.
But the new possibility at the airport is void of any nearby homes. Another benefit is that the site is adjacent to Gateway’s Horizon Center---that building’s infrastructure would be used to support the track operation.
No formal vote was taken by the Airport Commission yesterday. That’ll happen after Gateway presents its plans in greater detail.
City administration also wholeheartedly supports the site. "Anytime that the city can participate and help Gateway expand its operations in the city--we want to be there standing next to them," said City Administrator Frank Pacetti.
Because of state-imposed spending limits, construction on the new track couldn't begin until early 2018. Until then, Gateway hopes to continue to use the bumpy parking lot at Dairyland.
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