The Ames City Council narrowed the playing field for an air service for the Ames airfield at a special meeting held Monday night.

Hap’s Air Service of Ames, which currently serves the airport, was turned down so Council members could consider another local business and an out-of-town service. Air services provide local flights to other local airports, such as Fort Dodge, Waterloo and Des Moines.

Jet Stream Aviation of Ames and Midwest Flying Services, based out of Sheldon, are now in the running for a new contract to serve airport users.

“I think we’ll be able to do this if we can eliminate the numbers,” said City Manager Steve Schainker in his support of the two companies.

Hap’s contract expires June 30, 1997. Contracts are signed for five years.

Midwest and Jet Stream were chosen over Hap’s and Jason Carlstrom, who serves the Ankeny and Des Moines areas. A committee, formed last June, interviewed four companies. The businesses were rated on a five-point scale, with Midwest scoring the highest with a 3.43 rating. Following were Jet Stream, Carlstrom and Hap’s. Council members will now discuss details with Midwest and Jet Stream.

In other news

* The council unanimously approved a resolution to designate the 3M Corporation, 900 Dayton Ave., as an economic development area. The designation will help the company to create 60 new jobs as the result of a new production line.

In addition, the city lawmakers decided to submit 3M’s application to the state to see if the company will qualify for incentives.

Council notes say 3M has met eligibility criteria, including paying wages at 130 percent of the county average and the creation of 50 jobs over a five-year period.

If the state approves the application, the company will be exempt from some property taxes and will receive other tax credits including in investment, new jobs, equipment and research.

The council’s short meeting ended with additions to the agenda for the next meeting, which will be held March 25 in city hall.

* In response to a national announcement by automakers, the council voted to waive formal procedures in the purchase of two 1997 Ford F-250 pickups for the city.

After Ford Motors announced they were discontinuing certain vehicle models, the council took immediate action in fear that the company would stop placing orders for pickups as well.

Previously, General Motors discontinued orders for a particular truck model.