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Lincoln County airport fight stalls over user control

Commissioners kill proposal after confusion over board composition

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Todd Epp
Oct 11, 2025
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a small plane parked in front of a hangar
Photo by Sean Foster on Unsplash

Lincoln County commissioners voted down a proposed restructuring of its airport governance this week after becoming gridlocked over how best to pay for aviation operations at the county-owned airfield.

The fight centers on how much control airport tenants should wield over the Tea facility’s future. Commissioner Jim Schmidt on Tuesday in Canton pushed for a board dominated by airport users — people who lease hangars and tie-down space — arguing their business expertise could turn the money-losing operation around. Two residents urged commissioners to maintain broader county representation, warning against letting lessees control decisions that affect taxpayers.

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