Granite County approves transfer of expiring FAA entitlement funds and offers Drummond airport manager post

The Granite County Board of County Commissioners on June 23 unanimously approved a plan to transfer expiring FAA entitlement funds to Ravalli County under a reciprocal agreement and moved to offer Brad Radtke the position of Drummond Airport Manager, contingent on his interest and acceptance.

Airport Board Chair Jim Grassey and member Derek Campbell reported that the Airport Board had approved amended bylaws and discussed options for expiring entitlement funds. Commissioners expressed support for transferring those expiring FAA entitlement dollars to Ravalli County under a reciprocal agreement, with repayment due by Dec. 31, 2028, unless Granite County is later determined to be ineligible for FAA funding because it is a daytime-use airport. The motion to transfer was made by Commissioner Blanche McLure and seconded by Commissioner Paul Kulaski and passed unanimously.

Commissioner McLure also moved and Commissioner Kulaski seconded an offer to Brad Radtke to serve as Drummond Airport Manager; that motion also passed unanimously. The Airport Board will provide a signed version of amended bylaws to the Commission for placement on an upcoming agenda for Commission approval.

Public commenters raised questions about airport governance, FAA funding implications and meeting recordings during the airport discussion. Commissioners did not identify specific budget amounts in the meeting record for the entitlement funds transfer; the reciprocal agreement will specify repayment terms and any conditions tied to FAA eligibility.