Lewiston and Nez Perce County Leaders Meet to Discuss Future of Regional Airport Partnership in Idaho
Joint Meeting Raises Questions About Airport Ownership Structure
LEWISTON, Idaho — City and county leaders gathered Tuesday at the Nez Perce County Courthouse for a joint special meeting to discuss the long-term future of the Lewiston-Nez Perce Regional Airport, including the possibility of restructuring or ending the current joint ownership arrangement between the two governing bodies.
The meeting was called at the request of Lewiston City Councilmember John Spickelmire, who first raised concerns during a March 2 work session. Spickelmire argued that having multiple decision-makers involved in airport governance creates friction that slows the facility’s growth and progress.
“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.”
The airport’s governing authority board currently consists of two members appointed by the city of Lewiston and two appointed by Nez Perce County, with those four members jointly selecting a fifth. While Spickelmire’s concerns about consolidating ownership sparked the conversation, much of the session turned toward identifying practical ways the city and county can collaborate more effectively rather than dissolve their partnership.
Airport Board Chair Points to Past Mismanagement as a Warning
Nez Perce County Chief Commissioner Joe Gish emphasized the regional significance of the airport and the responsibility elected leaders carry in supporting it.
“As elected politicians and leaders of our community, we kind of owe it to ourselves to understand the value of the airport,” Gish said. He also pointed to the potential impact of outside financial support, noting that state or federal assistance could meaningfully accelerate the airport’s development.
“If we just have a little help from the state or the federal government, I mean in the airport it would be amazing,” Gish said.
Airport authority board chair Gary Peters offered a candid assessment of how the airport arrived at its current competitive position — and offered a pointed warning rooted in recent history. Peters noted that prior to 2018, the Lewiston-Nez Perce Regional Airport held a stronger regional standing compared to its neighbor across the state line.
“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 both city and county officials to spend time at the airport to better understand its daily operations firsthand. “I urge you to come out to the airport, schedule a day and spend it on the field,” he said.
Lewiston City Councilor Kassee Forsmann put forward a constructive proposal before the session concluded, suggesting that the airport, city, and county develop a unified master plan to guide the facility’s future direction. “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.
Leaders Express Confidence in Moving Forward Together
Following the meeting, both Lewiston Mayor Dan Johnson and Commissioner Gish expressed optimism about the dialogue and the path ahead.
Gish said the session opened the door to more regular coordination between the two governing 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,” he 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.”
Mayor Johnson called the joint session a productive step toward shared goals. “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. He noted that the city’s existing land use plan already includes goals centered on cooperation with the county and the airport authority. “We have a goal of working with the county and with the airport authority to ensure that they are successful,” Johnson said. “So I’m very confident that that will happen.”
What Comes Next
City and county leaders identified scheduling regular joint meetings as a top near-term priority to maintain the momentum built during Tuesday’s session. Councilor Forsmann’s proposal for a joint master plan is expected to receive further discussion as both entities consider how best to position the Lewiston-Nez Perce Regional Airport for long-term growth and competitiveness in the Lewis-Clark Valley region. No formal vote was taken at the special meeting, but leaders from both sides signaled a shared commitment to strengthening the partnership rather than dissolving it. For broader Idaho infrastructure and economic development coverage, visit Idaho News and Idaho News Network.