While the state decides on a preferred plan for a proposed south suburban airport in unincorporated Will County, the owner of a private airport near the inaugural footprint is wondering why his runway has yet to be inspected.

Since Dec. 12, Jim Bult has been asking the Illinois Department of Transportation to inspect a new 5,000 foot runway at Bult Field, three miles southeast of Monee. The inspection is needed to legally open the runway, which is part of a more than $25 million rehabilitation project to comply with state and federal airport guidelines.

"Everything to do with that has been done and we're waiting on an inspection," Bult said. "What I want now is an inspection to verify compliance."

In 2004, Bult purchased the airport, which was originally called Sanger Field and has been in use since the 1940s. In December of 2004, state officials made a trip for an initial inspection, a standard procedure when an airport changes hands.

On Jan. 21, 2005, Bult received a letter from IDOT that itemized necessary improvements -- modifications to the runway, taxiway, hangars and surrounding elevations -- that needed to be addressed before the state would issue an operating certificate.

"They basically condemned the whole airport at that time," Bult said of the extent to which the airport needed to be improved in the eyes of the state.

The state's letter concluded by saying that an inspection to verify compliance with the above will be conducted when the improvements are completed, which they were in December.

Bult's obligation as the airport owner then was to call for an inspection. He has -- for more than two months now.

RS&H Architectural, Engineering, Planning and Environmental Service, a firm based in Florida with an office in Naperville, was hired to complete the work. The firm has sent at least five letters over the past 60 days to the state indicating that Bult Field is ready for the state's "obligatory inspection," Bult said.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has the inspection on its radar, agency spokesman Mike Claffey said.

"We're planning to communicate with him directly," Claffey said. "We will be in touch with Mr. Bult in regard to his inspection."

Matt Ryan, spokesman for Will County Executive Larry Walsh, said he planned to call IDOT's Director of Aeronautics Susan Shea today.

"It does seem unreasonable that IDOT couldn't get around to inspecting the runway," Ryan said.

But for one man opposed to any airport in Will County, the double standard is obvious.

George Ochsenfeld, the president of Shut This Airport Nightmare Down, a group opposed to an major airport operation in Will County, said the state has torn down homes that lie in the footprint, taking away from the property tax base, but it's ignoring a business that is ready to contribute to that tax base.

"You have someone who did what is required to have a business and the state is throwing up roadblocks," Ochsenfeld said.

Bult agrees.

"They act like they want to build an airport," he said. "But they can't even certify one that is staring them in the face."