Flathead County approves MOU for sheriff deputies to provide Glacier National Park Airport security

The Flathead County Commission voted to approve an interlocal agreement authorizing the sheriff’s office to provide law‑enforcement services and airport security at the Glacier National Park Airport. Sheriff’s Office representative Luke Foster told commissioners federal law requires a sworn officer to be present during certain airport operations and said the agreement is intended to ensure that requirement is met.

The agreement, presented by Foster, would dedicate deputies as the primary security presence at the airport while relying on the sheriff’s existing patrol fleet rather than buying new vehicles. Foster said the county would rotate older patrol vehicles into airport assignments and avoid purchasing additional cars: "I don't intend to [add vehicles]." He also described a plan to provide airport‑specific training for permanently assigned deputies while extending some training to on‑road support deputies.

County Administrator Pete Melnick and other commissioners pressed for clarity on a pair of issues: whether airport vehicle use could trigger federal grant‑assurance revenue‑diversion rules and what would happen to positions if the MOU ended. Melnick warned the airport had drawn a “line in the sand” on revenue diversion and reminded the board that grant assurances require funds be expended for airport operations; Foster said the vehicles would remain sheriff's office property but be used primarily at the airport, and that deputies could be absorbed back into the sheriff's office or apply for airport positions if the MOU were canceled.

Commissioners asked about training and staffing. Foster said permanently assigned airport deputies would need extra airport‑specific training "but some of that extra training is also gonna bleed over into our current staff," and called the assignment a new division within the office. A commissioner noted the county would not increase FTEs for that purpose without explicit board approval.

The commission moved and seconded the document for signature and approved the interlocal agreement by voice vote. The motion carried; commissioners recorded no recorded roll‑call tally in the transcript. The agreement will now be finalized and signed as directed by county staff.

Next steps: staff will finalize contract language and proceed with signatures; the MOU includes provisions on vehicle use, training expectations, and the county’s options if the airport seeks a separate police force.