City Manager on Leave Amid Council Turmoil | Spokane News

Albert Tripp, Airway Heights’ longtime city manager, is on administrative leave amid swirling mystery and political tension — a rare move for someone in his position for nearly two decades. As interim planning director Heather Trautman takes the reins, residents and council members grapple with unanswered questions, stalled investigations into communication breakdowns, and mounting pressure from public records requests over proposed data centers. Councilwoman Jennifer Morton suggests the turmoil stems more from personality clashes than performance, noting Tripp’s widespread praise across government levels. Complicating matters further, the sudden death of the city attorney has left governance in limbo, while disputed meeting minutes and delayed votes add to the confusion — all as the council struggles to untangle this messy chapter. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/sep/15/airway-heights-in-turmoil-as-city-leader-placed-on/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/bd263c503fe3e4fa Report issues to [email protected].