Delphi airport gets new board member
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Cougill

Some residents might be surprised to know that the city of Delphi owns and operates a general aviation airport on Division Line Rd., approximately three miles south of town. It receives tax money to operate and generates income by offering a variety of services to general aviation pilots.

The airport was given a 2008 budget appropriation of $76,750, plus $5,825.55 encumbered from 2007, for a total of $82,575.22. It hosts a part-time mechanic, rents hangars and sells fuel all of which generates revenue for the city.

The facility is managed by a board of directors and the latest addition to the group was recently appointed to the position by Delphi Mayor Randy Strasser. He is local resident Andrew Cougill.

"I've been interested in aviation for a long time," Cougill said Tuesday. "I was raised in the Air Force and I have a deep historical interest in aviation."

"I am not a private pilot and I do not own an aircraft, but I enjoy learning about that world," he added.

Cougill has been employed at the Grissom Air Museum for the past six years and has served

as curator for the past two years. He earned a bachelor's degree in 2000 in history and social science from Eastern Illinois University and a master's degree in historical administration from the same institution in 2002.

Cougill said he believes the Delphi Airport "has a lot of potential" and intends to help encourage more aviation activity and a greater variety of flying craft to use it. He explained that the first of a series of steps for improvement projects was to rehabilitate the present runway. He said it was necessary to ensure the work was done in such a manner as to allow other projects to build on it in future airport expansion plans.

Cougill has attended two board meetings where he met other board members and became acclimated to the workings of the airport.

"The board is working and trying to be on the ball about obtaining all FAA matching funds for projects," he said. "I am very encouraged that they are looking out to make sure taxpayers do not have to contribute any more than absolutely necessary for improvements."

The Delphi Municipal Airport Board of Directors meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the airport.