Officials from Lewiston and Nez Perce County gathered Tuesday at the county courthouse to evaluate the current structure of the Lewiston-Nez Perce Regional Airport, including whether the existing joint ownership arrangement should continue.
The session came at the request of Lewiston City Councilmember John Spickelmire, who had voiced concerns at a March work session about the airport’s governance model. Spickelmire argued that having multiple decision-making bodies hampers the facility’s ability to expand and modernize.
“The city having three owners or three decision-makers on that airport stifles the progress and growth of the airport,” Spickelmire said. “I truly think it should be down to one.”
Focus Shifts to Collaboration
While Spickelmire’s proposal sparked the discussion, much of the meeting centered on improving coordination between municipal and county leadership rather than dissolving the partnership.
Nez Perce County Chief Commissioner Joe Gish emphasized that elected leaders must recognize the airport’s regional significance and explore opportunities for state or federal assistance.
“As elected politicians and leaders of our community, we kind of owe it to ourselves to understand the value of the airport,” Gish said. “If we just have a little help from the state or the federal government, I mean in the airport it would be amazing.”
The airport authority operates with a five-member board: two appointees from the city, two from the county, and a fifth member selected by those four.
Board Chair Addresses Past Challenges
Airport authority board chair Gary Peters spoke bluntly about management issues that have affected the facility’s competitiveness in recent years.
“If you remember, prior to 2018, we were the regional airport. Pullman was not even in the hunt,” Peters said. “Do you want to know why that happened? It was because of us and because of our gross mismanagement.”
Peters urged elected officials to spend time at the facility to gain a better understanding of daily operations.
“I urge you to come out to the airport, schedule a day and spend it on the field,” he said.
Proposal for Joint Master Plan
Lewiston City Councilor Kassee Forsmann recommended developing a comprehensive master plan that would involve the airport authority, city government, and county commission.
“We should have an agreement master plan between the airport, county and the city to be ready for the future of the airport,” Forsmann said.
What Comes Next
Both Gish and Lewiston Mayor Dan Johnson expressed optimism about the partnership following the meeting.
Gish said the session established a foundation for more regular communication between the two government bodies.
“It really opened a door for us to just do joint meetings on a regular basis and try to get coordinated and synchronized on how we get the valley to grow,” Gish said. “I have no doubt that we’re going to get together and we’re going to get a unified front to support the airport.”
Johnson called the meeting productive and pointed to existing city planning documents that prioritize collaboration with the county and airport authority.
“It’s always good when the two bodies can come together and talk about our mutual interests, so I think to that end, it was very successful,” Johnson said. “We have a goal of working with the county and with the airport authority to ensure that they are successful.”
Scheduling regular joint meetings between city and county officials is now a priority as both governments work to strengthen coordination on airport development and other regional issues.