(June 13, 2006) -- Vice Mayor/Councilwoman Jackie Kell isn't at today's (June 13) Council meeting on proposed expansion of LB Airport's permanent terminal area facilities because she is attending a family gathering in North Dakota. Her office says she notified the Mayor/Council in March that would be out of town on June 13.

Vice Mayor Kell apparently remained silent at a previous Council meeting when Councilmembers set June 13 as a potential date for the Airport hearing.

Councilwoman Kell's office indicates that if a Council vote on the Airport matter does not come tonight, she intends to watch the video tape of the hearing and intends to vote on the matter when it comes up.

In the June 6 runoff for LB's 5th Council district seat, two term incumbent Kell, running a write-in campaign to remain in office under term limits, finished 262 votes behind challenger Gerrie Schipske in a tally where provisional and absentee votes remain to be counted. Kell has not conceded defeat and is awaiting a final count before announcing her next move.