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Board weighs snow‑removal options, NOTAM authority and liability after winter storms
Summary
Board members discussed past practice and options for airport snow removal, the authority of individuals to issue NOTAMs and who bears liability. Trustees agreed to research insurance and contracting options and to revisit the issue at the next meeting.
Park County and the City of Livingston airport board spent significant time debating how to keep Livingston Mission Field open during winter storms and who should have authority to issue NOTAMs or close the field.
The discussion grew out of a recent heavy snowfall and mechanical problems that limited the county’s capacity to plow. Board members said Yellowstone Air Service and other local operators have been stepping in to clear taxiways and apron areas, while county staff said resources and staffing for round‑the‑clock snow removal are limited.
Several board members said the county should not rely on volunteers or incidental staff availability. Board member Scott Wolf said the board should “put this out to bid” for a contractor dedicated to airport clearing, and emphasized that a contractor would carry insurance and be available on call. Wolf said volunteers and board members using county equipment create unacceptable liability exposure.
The meeting also reviewed the board’s prior practice and a prior policy: Paul Lineman and others said the board previously placed several named non‑board and board members on the NOTAM list so they could issue Notices to Airmen and close the field immediately when safety required it. Lineman said the board had agreed that a NOTAM issued by a non‑board operator should be reported to a board member promptly.
County Public Works representative Matt Whitman said that, operationally, a NOTAM or an emergency closure does not always require a 48‑hour notice; emergency safety responses (for example, a snow‑closure) are not subject to the standard agenda notice rule. Several speakers confirmed one practical path: having named individuals — FBO personnel, a public‑works designee or a designated board member — authorized in writing to issue NOTAMs and to coordinate post‑action notification.
Insurance and drug‑testing requirements emerged as sticking points. Several board members asked the county attorney’s office if contractors using county equipment (or county staff operating the airport plow) can be arranged without exposing the county to uncovered equipment damage or to federal drug‑testing obligations tied to CDL operation. The board asked staff to bring the county attorney to the next meeting for a legal and insurance briefing.
Why it matters: Livingston Mission Field serves general aviation and occasional diversion traffic; keeping the field operational during storms affects safety and regional air service. Board members said a reliable, insured snow‑removal plan is necessary to reduce risk to aircraft and to avoid exposing elected volunteers to potential legal claims.
Next steps: Board members asked staff to (1) collect cost estimates for a contracted snow‑removal service, (2) check whether a contractor may operate county equipment under indemnity and insurance terms, (3) confirm drug‑testing/CDL implications for operators, and (4) invite the county attorney to advise about delegation and liability.
