Park County panel approves Lumen fiber at Livingston Airport, flags FBO communication gaps

Park County officials voted by teleconference to let Lumen proceed with a fiber-optic installation at Livingston Airport, the chair said, and then pressed for clearer communications after a NOTAM temporarily restricted activity in the airportactive area.

The chair (identified in the call only by role) told participants that Matt Whitman, the public works director, had recently notified the board about the Lumen project and that Lance had given his clearance for the work despite a lack of prior notice from the contractor and the Federal Aviation Administration. "They would like to get to work in the next few weeks," the chair said.

Vice Chair James Willich moved to approve the installation, saying, "I move to approve the fiber optic install at, the airport." Commissioner Paul Lyman seconded. The chair called for public comment and, after hearing none, the motion passed on the teleconference with recorded "aye" votes from Paul Lyman and the chair; no opposing votes were recorded.

After the vote, commissioners turned to a separate operational matter. The chair read a text from a person named Ryan that said "I can't have anyone in the active area from 10 to 1, which is why he was informed that all mowing had to be done by the 7th." Several commissioners said they had not been told about the restriction and described "a significant lack of communication between Yellowstone Air Service and the board," citing safety concerns.

Vice Chair Willich asked that "communications and operations of the FBO" be placed on a future agenda. The chair said the item could not be added as formal business on the current call because it had not been published on the agenda, but he committed to follow up, investigate the NOTAM and related decisions, and place the topic on the next meeting agenda once the facts are clear.

Paul Lyman also reported that Harry had issued two NOTAMs closing turf runways and taxiways and had started using a new tractor and mower; Lyman described the equipment as operating well. Commissioner Storey offered no further comments, and the board adjourned.

The board did not record further details about the timeline for Lumen's work beyond the chair's statement that the company hoped to begin within weeks, nor did the call include additional public comment or a formal explanation from Yellowstone Air Service about the NOTAMs. The chair said he would contact relevant parties and update the board at a future meeting.