The La Plata County Commissioners yet again deferred selecting an option for an airport terminal expansion Tuesday morning.
The commissioners and the Durango City Council will meet Thursday morning to discuss selecting an option. On March 24, the board members may give formal direction on which airport expansion plan they wish to pursue.
“I don’t think giving final direction in two weeks is much of a delay,” said Gwen Lachelt, who became chairwoman of the board during the meeting.
The three commissioners decided on the delay after extensively questioning Airport Director Kip Turner on the next steps of the project. The consultants would explore the financing of the terminal-construction project the officials select.
Public officials have considered remodeling the current terminal, building a new terminal next to the existing one and building a new terminal east, across the runway. Building a terminal on the east side that would serve today’s airport traffic was recommended by a consulting firm.
Moving the airport to the east side has gained the support of a majority of Durango city councilors and county Commissioner Brad Blake.
Blake cautioned against postponing a decision much longer.
“I just am concerned we will discuss just to discuss,” he said.
However, the other commissioners defended taking the time to consult the public further. All of the commissioners said they were impressed by the amount of public comment they received last week.
Lachelt also suggested presenting the public with a big picture of funding needs in the near future, as several citizens requested last week.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
