The Hailey City Council hopes to cash in an old IOU it picked up from Blaine County years ago involving appointments to the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority.
The council voted unanimously on Dec. 15 requesting that Mary Ann Mix be allowed to remain as chair of the airport governing board until the end of her term in June.
Mix, currently a Blaine County commissioner, is one of two designated county representatives on the airport authority. Len Harlig, a former county commissioner, is the other.
However, Mix was defeated for re-election to the county commission by Tom Bowman, who takes office on Monday, Jan. 10.
But in the letter to the Blaine County Commission that she read Tuesday during the airport authority's regular monthly meeting, Hailey Mayor Susan McBryant stated that Mix was needed "because the very demanding and complex (Friedman Airport) site selection process is approximately two-thirds complete," and "it is in the best interest of the city of Hailey and the study to retain Mix until the process is concluded."
McBryant then reminded County Commission Chair Dennis Wright and Commissioner Sarah Michael this would be a favor returned.
In 1996, to head off a disruptive musical chairs scenario, the county wanted then-Commissioner Tom Blanchard to remain on the authority and asked the city of Hailey to delay the shift of Mix, who was then a Hailey councilwoman, to the airport group.
The city agreed, which had the effect of also delaying the appointment of City Councilwoman Martha Burke to the authority as well.
Blanchard left the authority, and both Mix and Burke are now serving on the board.
Wright said Wednesday he had not seen McBryant's letter, but commented that leaving Mix on the airport board until June "seems like a reasonable request."
He said, however, the newly formed commission in coming weeks would discuss it.
Mary Ann Mix
