Eastern Will County’s long-awaited airport is finally a reality - officially.

Jim Bult now has in his possession the long-awaited certificate of occupancy from the State of Illinois Department of Transportation declaring Bult Field officially open for business.

Bult has allowed planes to take off and land from his newly built concrete runway for weeks prior to IDOT’s approval. He originally asked for the final inspection of his runway in December. State officials kept putting him off with numerous excuses, such as inclement weather, not having the proper paperwork, and a need for a face-to-face meeting. Bult satisfied them all.

Finally in early May, the field was inspected. IDOT spokesman Mike Claffey claimed a certificate of occupancy was forthcoming.

IDOT later said it was in the mail. Apparently officials have run out of options for further delaying the inevitable. Because last week, just after Bult received widespread news coverage from the Goodyear Blimp visiting his airstrip, IDOT finally gave in.

For months IDOT officials were in a quandry because Bult Field lies in the northwest corner of the proposed Peotone airport.

He has spent millions of dollars to completely revamp the airfield he bought from the Sanger family in 2004. It appears IDOT had no other options, but to perform their duty to provide the final inspection of Bult’s new runway. Issuing the final certificate is part of that process.

Not only did Bult receive the final inspection certificate of occupancy, but it was delivered to him personally, by state helicopter. The site of the $4 million aircraft touching down to make the delivery has left some of Bult’s neighbors and biggest supporters, just a little miffed.

George Ochsenfeld, president of STAND was concerned when he saw a low-flying helicopter near his home. He was appalled to learn that it belonged to IDOT who was personally delivering the piece of paper they had promised was already in the mail.

Ochsenfeld was critical of IDOT’s grandiose use of state taxpayer resources.

"These huge helicopter's cost a couple thousand dollars per hour to operate. Couldn't IDOT have used the U.S. Postal Service or Fed Ex to make their delivery?

"The entire ordeal IDOT put Bult through was inexcusable. They were foolish to stall the final certificate for work they themselves approved," Ochsenfeld said.

"Screwing up the simplest procedures makes me question how IDOT believes they could ever accomplish something as complicated as building an airport.

"The agency has already been questioned extensively in its most recent audit. Perhaps more scrutiny into the use of state aircraft should be considered."