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Granite County refers airport beacon and lighting draft to airport board after FAA clarifies funding trade-offs
Summary
Following a meeting with FAA staff, commissioners agreed to send a draft ordinance limiting nighttime use at Phillipsburg’s Riddick Field to the airport board for review; FAA representatives told the county that accepting federal money for lighting or runway expansion can carry obligations to allow broader, potentially 24/7, operations, but pilot-controlled lighting may be an option.
Granite County commissioners voted to send a draft ordinance about beacon and runway-lighting controls at Riddick Field to the county’s airport board for further review after an extended discussion with Federal Aviation Administration staff.
The draft ordinance, discussed at the board’s meeting, would formalize emergency-only nighttime use and create a process for activating runway lighting and the beacon in emergency situations. Commissioners and residents said they want to limit night operations to emergencies after several public meetings raised concerns about light intrusion and expanded development.
Jason Garwood, an FAA representative who attended the meeting, told the commissioners that federal funding can affect operational obligations. “If FAA funding was used to install a new lighting system, we would fully expect the airport to allow 24/7 operations,” he said, adding that pilot-controlled lighting or other technical approaches can sometimes meet safety needs without requiring continuous, night‑time operation.
Blaine (staff/legal), who provided local legal advice during the discussion, and Jack Foster (committee member) both urged caution about accepting federal grants without clarity on obligations. Foster, summarizing local sentiment, said residents have repeatedly requested only emergency night use and were skeptical of changes that could expand operations without clear community review.
Commissioners repeatedly emphasized that the county’s goal is to preserve the airport’s current scale while meeting safety needs. The board asked the airport board to review the draft ordinance and consider options such as pilot-controlled activation for lights, any required coordination with Montana State Aeronautics, and a recommended publication and hearing schedule. The commission also asked staff to follow up with FAA in writing to confirm technical options and any likely grant obligations.
Next steps: the airport board will review the draft at its upcoming meeting and forward recommendations back to the commission; county staff will prepare a follow-up letter for the FAA and provide an update to the commission once the airport board’s guidance is received.
