Airport director asks HR to classify new leasing and contract specialist position

Gaston Patterson, the airport director, told the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners on April 16 that the airport needs a new Leasing and Contract Specialist to handle expansion-related lease and contract work.

Patterson said the main duties would include administering leases from initial tenant contact through drafting lease documents, working with planning, surveying and legal, and presenting finalized leases to the board. “We are growing rapidly and not slowing down,” he said, explaining that three administrative staff currently handle all lease duties and that workload is creating a bandwidth problem.

Patterson described the item as an initial classification evaluation so Human Resources can grade the position; once HR completes its review the county will know a salary grade and be able to include the position in FY27 budget planning. When commissioners asked about cost, Patterson said the figure is unknown at this stage because HR must grade the position and then a loaded cost can be calculated.

A motion passed to allow the airport director to work with HR on the new FTE initial classification evaluation. The board did not approve a salary or additional appropriations at the HR meeting; those items will be addressed in the usual budget process after HR classification and grading.