Crites Field ready for crowd for Target meeting

Published on: 5/27/2009

Waukesha - The Waukesha County Airport/Crites Field is prepared to handle whatever corporate jet traffic is generated Thursday as a result of the Target Corp. annual meeting at an unfinished Waukesha store.

Airport manager Keith Markano said there is no way to know in advance how many flights might be arriving for the meeting. The local tower usually gets information on aircraft when they are 10 miles out.

'I would hope we see some activity,' Markano said.

The aviation business has been hammered by the recession, he said, and the Waukesha County Airport is no exception. The airport's longest runway is 5,800 feet, which can handle a variety of corporate jets.

The annual meeting is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Thursday at an almost-complete Target store at 1250 W. Sunset Drive.

During the meeting, a bitterly contested proxy fight will play out. Target shareholders will decide whether to elect the company-backed slate of four current directors or choose five who were nominated by dissident shareholder Bill Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital Management.