How $10 million was spread among eight SD airports

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) -- The decision by the state Aeronautics Commission that eight of South Dakota's public airports will share $10 million of aid from the Legislature for the first time didn't come easily.

Before they could get to how the $10 million should be spread, the commissioners dealt with two other arguments during their meeting on Thursday.

First, Sioux Falls Regional Airport manager Dan Letellier wanted the terminal expansion underway there to also receive $200,000, as others previously had under the commission's existing policy. That was to be in addition to an application for $15 million, which happened to be $5 million more than the total amount earmarked by the Legislature.

But when Letellier understood from some of the commissioners and Transportation Secr...