Officials with Scotts Bluff County and the Western Nebraska Regional Airport have come to terms on an agreement on sharing insurance costs for the transportation hub.
For decades, the county has paid for all insurance on the buildings at the airport, which prompted Commissioners to seek a change in recent years due to the rising expense.
During Monday’s County Board meeting, WNRA attorney Jerry Ostdiek told them for the 2024-25 insurance term, the airport would pay slightly more than $36,100, and that figure would rise in future years.
“It will increase because of the cost of insurance and also, as the Airport Authority is able to take over more of these insurance premiums by amending the leases as they come do, then that portion will increase also,” said Ostdiek.
Commissioners Vice-Chair Mark Harris said the agreement was a long time coming. “The subject has been far more than a year, it’s been a year or 2 or 3, and we’re finally getting to the point where some progress is being made on our part, anyway. And we appreciate all the help from from the airport and what they’ve done,” Harris said.
The County will continue to carry some or all of the insurance coverage on buildings that have public use.
The WNRA Board had already approved the agreement, which received 4-0 support from Commissioners.
