County Board finalizes Kestrel land deal

The final hurdle for a project to create 600 aircraft manufacturing jobs in Superior was cleared Thursday night.

The Douglas County Board unanimously approved a proposal to transfer property at the fairgrounds to the city’s Redevelopment Authority to facilitate a proposed manufacturing facility for Kestrel Aircraft Company.

In fact, the board nearly unanimously made the motion to approve the cooperation agreement for the land transfer.

Kestrel officials announced Monday, they had selected Superior to implement plans for manufacturing facilities where the company will build the Kestrel K-350.

Kestrel intends to construct two facilities in Superior — one in the Winter Street Industrial Park now owned by the Redevelopment Authority, and the other on RACS-owned, city-owned airport property and county-owned fairgrounds.

According to the agreement approved by the board, the county will transfer 13.3 acres of land at the northern portion of the county fairgrounds to the Redevelopment Authority, which would in turn, sell the property to Kestrel. The county will get $500,000 from the sale — $250,000 to be paid at closing, expected by March 31, 2013, and half to be paid by Kestrel with 3 percent interest by Dec. 31, 2014.

“Many hands worked to make this happen,” said County Administrator Andy Lisak, noting the county board’s decision Thursday night was the capstone for the project.

The county will retain access to the property, the multi-purpose building, curling club and parking through a license agreement with Kestrel Aircraft Company.

The county is committed to making a smooth transition for the user groups involved in the fairgrounds, Lisak said.

When the county board meets again in March, he said they will discuss creating a working group to ensure a smooth transition.

Tags: douglas county, news, superior, business, money