Tooele County took ownership of the airport in the 1990s to help Wendover avoid bankruptcy. It also took on the city's debts, which are now considered the airport's debts. They now total about $1.8 million. Add to that $2.2 million in operating costs since the county took over, and the airport is estimated to carry about $4 million in liability.

"This is all a Utah problem," Elko County Commission chairman Mike Nannini said.

Still, the commission and West Wendover's mayor, Josephine Thaut, were open to the idea of West Wendover buying the airport by paying the $1.8 million debt.

Other options would include Tooele County retaining control of the airport despite it being on Nevada land, selling the airport to a private company or shutting down the airport entirely. But most agree the airport would likely become more successful if it were located in Nevada.

One more major issue is the question of gaming — and Nevada officials said that if gaming were allowed on the Wendover, Utah, side of the newly formed city, that would be "a deal-breaker" for the Nevada Legislature.

The concern, they said, is that casinos that already exist in West Wendover are a major employer for residents in both cities, and they built where they did because of the benefits of being the first casinos as you enter Nevada from Utah. Allowing new casinos in what was once Utah would unfairly undercut the success of the already existing casinos, they said.

Wendover Mayor Steve Perry agreed.

"I'd love to see (gaming) personally. But I would rather see us be one community than have gaming," Perry said.

However, planners still must look into whether there is any legal way to permanently ban gaming in just half of the city. A zoning ordinance wouldn't be enough, they say, because future city councils could change the zoning rules.

No action was taken at Thursday's meeting because annexation will ultimately come down to the states' legislatures and the U.S. Congress. However, local leaders were hopeful Thursday that they had bridged several divides between the two cities and paved the way for solutions to the complex questions facing the annexation process.

The next meeting dealing with the issue will be a Utah legislative subcommittee meeting Wednesday.

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E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com