Hoeven tours new hospital, terminal in Jamestown

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Keith Norman / The Sun From left, Matt Leitner, manager of Jamestown Regional Airport, Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Steve Aldinger, project engineer for Interstate Engineering, survey the arrival area of the new airport terminal Monday. Hoeven toured the terminal and Jamestown Regional Medical Center during a visit to Jamestown.

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Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., spent some time at two of Jamestown’s newest buildings Monday.

Hoeven toured the new terminal at Jamestown Regional Airport and spent time at Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

He credited airport leaders with increasing passenger boardings.

“People like (Jamestown Regional Airport Board Authority President) Jim Boyd and (Airport Manager) Matt Leitner have done such a wonderful job with the increase in passengers,” Hoeven said. “An increase of 254 percent since 2007 is a testament to the leadership they’ve shown at the airport. This is a community coming together to say air service is important to the economy.”

Airport leaders hope the new $2.4 million terminal, dedicated in December, will continue the growth.

“The new terminal is a positive thing for Jamestown’s economy,” said Mayor Katie Andersen, who is also an airport board member. “This is going the right way.”

Hoeven said air service was important to communities.

“North Dakota is leading the country in a lot of areas,” he said. “Air service is critical to our economy, which is why we worked hard on the Essential Air Service program. We have to keep working with Great Lakes Airlines about the aircraft that they use.”

The airline serving Jamestown receives a subsidy from the EAS program. Great Lakes Airlines is expected to win the contract after Delta airlines did not submit a bid. Delta is currently serving Jamestown during the transition to Great Lakes, which is expected in the spring.

Hoeven also commented on federal funding programs aimed at rural hospitals.

“One of the keys there is not only your new facility but funding flexibility,” he said. “Flexible funding for critical access hospitals allows them to spend the money most effectively.”

Hoeven toured the facilities with Jamestown and Stutsman County leaders as well as members of the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. and other business leaders.

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at knorman@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, politics, airport, hospital