Future of Red Lodge Airport Remains Uncertain
The dispute continues over land that has been managed (including the power to lease property) and maintained by the Joint Airport Board (Board) as the Red Lodge Airport since 1959. The Board consists of the three County Commissioners, two members appointed by the Town of Bridger and two members appointed by the City of Red Lodge. The land consists of contiguous parcels owned by the City of Red Lodge adjacent to Highway 78 and Airport Road and is all that land zoned for airport and airport-compatible uses within the City of Red Lodge as detailed in the map dated October 1, 1976, accompanying the City of Red Lodge Ordinance 706 and referenced in Red Lodge Municipal Code 13 which states in part:
“In order to carry out the provisions of this chapter, there are hereby created and established certain zones which include all of the land lying beneath the approach surface, transitional surfaces, horizontal surface, and conical surfaces as they apply to the Red Lodge airport. Such zones are shown on the Red Lodge airport zoning map consisting of one sheet, prepared by HKM Associates, Billings, Montana, and dated October 1, 1976, which is attached to Ordinance 706 and made a part thereof.”
As the parties cannot move forward with negotiations on a management agreement before determining the area to be managed, at the July Board meeting Commissioner Scott Blain proposed a five-person committee that would eventually consist of Jody Ronning and Terri Durbin (both Red Lodge City Council members), Bo Ewald and Steve Smith (both Red Lodge citizens, hangar owners and Board members) and Angela Newell (County Administrator) tasked with coming to an agreement on the boundary that the City would accept and that would allow the airport to continue to pursue a relationship with the FAA . The map of the boundary they propose is below:
As of August 22, both the City and the County have yet to formally approve the map. If the City does decide to change the physical boundaries of the Airport Board’s control, the City will need to go through the processes to update its codes, ordinances and other governing and planning documents to reflect these changes.
In a meeting with Carbon County Commissioners Bill Bullock and Scott Blain, City Council members Jenn Battles and Jody Ronning indicated the boundary was the easiest part to agree upon with the interlocal agreement and composition of a new Board possibly presenting more difficulties. Specifically, Battles mentioned that it seemed unbalanced that the new Board, as proposed by City officials, would consist of three members appointed by the City of Red Lodge, three members appointed by the Town of Bridger and the three Carbon County Commissioners. Battles pointed out that, mathematically, that meant that 100% of the County Commission would be on the Board while only 50% of the Red Lodge City Council could be on the Board.
Any major land use decisions regarding an airport under the existing interlocal agreement, and under any future agreement the County would entertain entering into, would require ultimate approval from both the County and municipality involved. Having all three members of the County Commission on the Board assures the speediest and most controlled method of approving any needed major changes, requiring only one more governing body from which to gain approval. The County Commission indicated it had no problem with all members of the Town and City Councils being members of the Board as long as they stay informed on the issues and attend meetings. Battles admitted that would be impractical.
The Board has stated they anticipate no changes to the airport at this time beyond what is required to obtain re-entry to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) grant program so they can assure the smooth administration of the Red Lodge Airport for the next twenty years (the length of the grant program that will facilitate the construction of a new runway and enhance the design safety of the airport). Once accepted into the program, not only will any major changes to the land and facilities need to be approved by the municipality and the County, but will have the added layer of scrutiny and required approval from the FAA. The approved master plan would guide the management and development of the airport for the next twenty years, providing stability and predictability for that period.
When asked why the Board hasn’t held a public meeting on the master plan yet, I was told the plan was near completion (see draft layout here), but waiting to be finalized until after the boundary issue is resolved. The first presentation of the proposed master plan will be at the next Airport Board meeting scheduled for October 17 at 1:00.
Over the last ten audited years (7/1/2012-6/30/2022) of the Airport Board’s books, the County has contributed approximately $507,727. The City of Red Lodge has contributed $35,191 [the land and one mil per year ($8,053 for 2023) is the City's contribution to airport operations] and the Town of Bridger has contributed $6,758. Other County resources that have been used to fund the airport in the past include PILT, Bentonite Tax, Oil & Gas Tax, and Entitlement Funds. According to County records, as of August 22, 2023, the City of Red Lodge has not made their payments to the Board for 2015, 2016, or 2017, totaling about $19,922.
A resolution from the City was presented to the County wherein the date for dispersal of assets and dissolution of the existing airport board would be extended two months to Friday, October 13. A motion was passed at the Airport Board meeting on August 15 wherein the Board formally accepted the City’s resolution to stay the dissolution of airport assets until Friday, October 13, as long as the City confirms that the condition requiring the County produce a list of assets has been met. That confirmation has not been received by the County as of August 22. A date certain by which time that confirmation must be received by the County was not set. Red Lodge Mayor Kristen Cogswell, who controls the City Council meeting agenda and who attended the August 15 Airport Board meeting, did not include any airport issues on the Council agenda for its meeting tonight, August 22, although she acknowledged during the Board meeting that there was ample time to do so.
The Red Lodge City Council meets tonight at 6:00 at Red Lodge City Hall located at 1 South Platt.