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Commissioners authorize Port of the Plains committee to open talks with North Platte Airport Authority
Summary
The board authorized county appointees to begin discussions with the North Platte Airport Authority about potentially expanding the Nebraska International Port of the Plains district to include airport-related acreage after recent state statutory changes widened permitted noncontiguous district distance to 15 miles.
Commissioners voted to authorize the Nebraska International Port of the Plains committee to engage the North Platte Airport Authority in early discussions about expanding the Port district to potentially include airport property and related economic development assets.
Commissioner Christopher Bruns said the issue was raised at a recent Port of the Plains board meeting and noted state legislation changed the Municipal Import Authority Act to allow noncontiguous areas to be included in port districts at a larger radius (expanded from a smaller distance to 15 miles). That statutory change, Bruns said, creates an opportunity to consider including airport property in the district for air-cargo and logistics development.
Representatives from the North Platte Airport Authority—Dan Phelps and airport manager Justin Gosnell—told commissioners the airport authority supports conversations and had already authorized HDR Engineering to begin a study to identify floodplain and development constraints on airport property. Mike Steele, treasurer for the Port Authority, said the Port board wants to keep the option available so the district can expand when the time is right.
The motion to authorize committee members to start engagement passed on a roll call vote; commissioners said county and airport staff would coordinate next steps and exchange contact information.
Why this matters The change in state statute expands tools available for local economic development and could allow the county to include airport property within an inland port district, which supporters say could improve freight, logistics and international market access. Commissioners emphasized this is an early-stage authorization to begin discussions, not a decision to change district boundaries.
Ending County and airport staff will exchange contact points and the Port committee was instructed to start formal engagement; any change to district boundaries would require multiple parties, legal review and eventual formal approvals.
