We talked to Mike Beard, Business Development Executive at Bollig Engineering, about how the small town of Elbow Lake, MN (a town of around 1290 residents) became a “Gold Star” airport. It’s a story of grit, community spirit, and a little legislative nudge that turned Lake Flekkefjord from a simple pond into a public seaplane base. And now, after more than a decade of steady work, Elbow Lake Airport has been recognized with an Award of Excellence by MnDOT Aeronautics and Project of the Year from the Minnesota Council of Airports (MCOA). It’s a reminder that big dreams thrive in small places, especially when the right team of people are working toward a common goal.
The Spark: A Seaplane Dream
It all started back in 2011-2012, when aviation funding felt like pocket change compared to massive highway projects. Mike Beard, then the Chair of the Minnesota House Transportation Committee and a passionate pilot, got a visit from Representative Tory Westrom. Westrom represented Elbow Lake and received a request from the town to designate Lake Flekkefjord as a public seaplane base to boost the local airport. Beard remembers thinking, “They wanted to put a seaplane base on what was basically a pond in the middle of the prairie. That’s optimism.”
The lake wasn’t exactly Lake Superior. It was a prairie pond, hemmed in by a peninsula that narrowed the seaplane lane to just 190 feet at one point, which is short of MnDOT Aeronautics’ width standards. But Westrom’s constituents were determined. The push also came from Joe LaRue, an aircraft mechanic, who wanted to start a helicopter business at the airport. The city of Elbow Lake saw potential in drawing seaplane pilots from nearby areas.
Mike Beard dug into the details and found inconsistencies in existing seaplane bases across Minnesota; some were even smaller than Lake Flekkefjord. After a bill hearing where Westrom, Paul Brutlag (Elbow Lake Airport Board Chair), and others testified, the legislature passed a bill to make it happen. “We passed the bill telling MnDOT to go ahead and issue a seaplane base license to Elbow Lake,” Beard recalls. It took two years of paperwork, but by 2015 or 2016, Lake Flekkefjord officially became Minnesota’s newest public seaplane base. Beard remembers, “Elbow Lake nearly threw a parade – they were that excited!” Reflecting on it now, Beard says, “This proves what can happen in a town of 1,200 people when everyone pulls in the same direction.”
The People Who Made It Soar: Paul, Joe, and a Unified Airport Board
What sets Elbow Lake apart is not only its seaplane base but the people behind it. As Beard puts it, “That airport didn’t succeed because of money. It succeeded because of people.” At the center of that effort are Paul Brutlag and Joe LaRue, who turned enthusiasm into action. Paul, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday at Elbow Lake Airport, is a pilot who still flies his AT-6 Texan trainer. Joe used his mechanical expertise to build Prairie Air Inc, the FBO at Elbow Lake Municipal Airport that supports the airport operations. “Joe wasn’t just running an airport,” Beard says. “He was building something for the community.” Together, they have remained visible in the community – showing up at local events, mentoring kids, and keeping the airport’s spirit alive.
The strong leadership on the Elbow Lake Airport Board has been essential. In small towns like Elbow Lake, progress depends on the people who consistently show up – not only to meetings, but also to church suppers, festivals, and other local events. The board works closely with the Elbow Lake City Council to avoid delays that could stall projects. They also stay engaged with residents, explaining how the airport supports jobs and economic benefits. As Beard puts it, “In towns like Elbow Lake, the average person understands why the airport matters and how it benefits the community.” That shared understanding and support have been the secret sauce.
Bollig Engineering Steps In: Building Toward Gold Star Status
In 2014, as Mike Beard transitioned from the legislature to consulting for Bollig Engineering, he flew to Elbow Lake with colleague Joe Gimse to meet with the Elbow Lake Airport Board. The airport was preparing to change consultants after frustrations with a previous firm, and Bollig was ready to step in. Kathy Vesely, then MnDOT Aeronautics’ Assistant Director and a pilot herself, supported the transition and encouraged the team to help position the small rural airport for long-term success through thoughtful planning, steady investment, and strong stewardship. She saw the potential for Elbow Lake to become what she described as a “Gold Star Airport” for rural Minnesota, a small airport known for doing things the right way and continually improving over time. Elbow Lake selected Bollig Engineering as its airport consultant, making the airport one of Bollig’s early aviation clients. More than a decade later, that vision has been realized through sustained partnerships, practical improvements, and now statewide recognition.
Recognition Built on Long-Term Vision
Elbow Lake Airport was recognized with the 2026 MnDOT Aeronautics Award of Excellence, an honor given to airports that demonstrate strong performance in safety, maintenance, planning, and community impact. The award reflects more than a single project. It recognizes years of ongoing improvement, collaboration, and local commitment to strengthening the airport as a regional asset.
Over the past 11 years, Elbow Lake has worked with Bollig Engineering on a wide range of airport priorities, including a master plan, FAA compliance, funding strategy, and facility improvements at this National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) airport. Under the leadership of Bollig’s Aviation Lead, Angie Holm, the team helped navigate everything from hangar construction to grant applications, building strong working relationships with MnDOT and FAA staff along the way and helping turn challenges into opportunities. Most recently, this included the airport’s apron expansion and Taxiway Alpha construction, which won the 2025 Project of the Year from the Minnesota Council of Airports (MCOA).
The result is an airport that has steadily grown in function, visibility, and value. Elbow Lake has strengthened its role in supporting business travel, agricultural operations, emergency services, and recreational aviation, while also earning recognition from state and industry partners. What once was described as a vision for a rural “Gold Star Airport” has, over time, become a reality.
Why This Matters for Small-Town Aviation
Elbow Lake’s story offers a strong example for other small cities with airports that need updates, direction, and investment. It shows what can happen when local leaders stay committed, partners and community stay engaged, and long-term planning guides each step forward. For small-town airports, success usually does not come from a single big project. It comes from years of thoughtful decisions, creative funding, and people who care enough to keep pushing forward. Elbow Lake’s recent recognition from MnDOT Aeronautics and the Minnesota Council of Airports is a reminder that rural airports can play a major role in safety, connectivity, economic development, and community pride.
At Bollig Engineering, we are proud to support airports and small cities as they plan for what is next. If your community is thinking about airport improvements, funding opportunities, or long-term aviation planning, please reach out to us.
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