A move to limit the airport manager’s spending authority sparked discussion and a split vote at Monday’s Alva Airport Commission meeting. Oddly instead of stating his proposal out loud, Commissioner Terry Turner passed around papers to other members with his suggested wording of the motion.

The Alva City Council recently amended the spending limits for department heads to $10,000, down $5,000 from the previous limit of $15,000. Expenditures above the limit must be approved by the city council or the city manager whose limit is $25,000. The airport manager was considered a department head thus...