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County & City of Lethbridge Consider Co-owning Airport
County of Lethbridge and City officials will begin exploring the possiblity of forming a partnership to own the local airport.
A consultant's report on the future of the Lethbridge Airport includes a proposed partnerhship between the County and City to own and operate the facility. It's one of the recommendations in the report that was presented Monday afternoon to a joint meeting of County Council and City Council. Reeve Lorne Hickey says County and City officials will meet as soon as possible to review the recommendations. He says the study pointed out the focus of the project needs to shift toward governance and land development in 2012. Solidifying ownership and operations of the airport will become the priority for now in order to offer a better business case to airlines in the future. Hickey notes the County has said from the outset of this initiative, nothing is going to happen overnight. The introduction of an Airport Commission to operate the facility was another key recommendation in the report. The issue of airport ownership and operation is expected to come back before both councils in September. Mayor Rajko Dodic says given the importance of the airport to the local and regional economy, it seems prudent for City Council to explore whether joint ownership with the County makes sense, and if so, what forms such a partnership might take.