The names of appointees to the new Blaine County Airport Advisory Commission were announced Tuesday by the Blaine County Commission, including a surprise change of roles for longtime Friedman Memorial Airport Authority member Len Harlig.
Harlig, who has served on the authority for 16 years, is leaving that post to accept appointment as the at-large member of the new advisory commission. His authority term was to expire in June.
Though no successor to Harlig was mentioned during Tuesday's announcement, County Commission Chair Larry Schoen later confirmed in an interview his desire to be appointed to the seat left open by Harlig. Schoen said he has had a longstanding interest in serving on the airport governing body.
A successor to Harlig will be named before the airport authority's Jan. 5 monthly meeting.
Those named to the advisory commission are business owner Adrienne Robideaux, economics teacher and former Citizens for Smart Growth Executive Director Vanessa Fry, longtime pilot and consulting engineer Carl Harris, private jet pilot and financier Chris Stephens and Harlig.
In explaining his switch of roles, Harlig said that since his term would expire soon, and he wants to continue participating in the development of a replacement airport for Friedman, he accepted appointment to the advisory commission.
Harlig was asked by the county commissioners to help organize the new advisory group for its first meetings with the authority.
The advisory commission was the outgrowth of countywide meetings attended by city officials, civic leaders and aviation interests to develop a mechanism to prepare for a new governing body at a new airport. The supposition has been that an advisory group, which will have no policymaking authority, could be the nucleus of a new airport authority.
Therefore, as described during various meetings, advisory commission members will work closely with the airport authority during current operations and planning for a new airport to learn airport management.
The airport authority and airport advisory posts are non-salaried.
