Acquisition and operation of state airports - Authority to establish state airports

Acquisition and operation of state airports - Authority to establish state airports. The Department is authorized and empowered, on behalf of and in the name of this State, within the limitation of available appropriations, to acquire by purchase, gift, legacy, lease, condemnation proceedings, or otherwise, property real or personal, for the purpose of establishing and constructing, for the benefit of and use by the public, of airports, restricted landing areas, and other air navigation facilities, to contract or otherwise provide, by condemnation if necessary, for the removal of any airport hazard or the removal or the relocation of all private structures, railways, mains, pipes, conduits, wires, cables, poles, and all other facilities and equipment which may interfere with the location, establishment, construction, development, enlargement, improvement, maintenance, repair, equipment, or operation of such public airports, restricted landing areas, and other air navigation facilities or with the safe approach thereto or takeoff therefrom by aircraft, and to pay the cost of such removal or relocation, and to acquire in like manner, own, control, establish, construct, develop, enlarge, improve, maintain, repair, equip, operate, regulate, zone and police such public airports, restricted landing areas, and other air navigation facilities, either within or without this State; to make, prior to any such acquisition, investigations, surveys, and plans; and to erect, install, construct, and maintain at such airports accommodations and facilities for the servicing of aircraft and for the comfort and accommodation of air travelers. It may not, however, acquire or take over any airport, restricted landing area or other air navigation facility owned or controlled by municipality or other political subdivision of this State without the consent of such municipality or other political subdivision. It may erect, equip, operate, and maintain, on any public airport established, constructed or operated on behalf of the State, buildings, including hangars, structures, and any kind or description of personal property, including facilities and equipment, necessary and proper to establish, operate, conduct, repair and maintain such public airport and other air navigation facilities. (Source: P.A. 83-388.)