Greeneville Airport Authority members went on the defensive Wednesday afternoon pertaining to recent rejections of Airport Board member recommendations by the City Council, and the back and forth which led to Skyknight moving planned operations to Indiana.
BOARD MEMBER RECOMMENDATIONS
The Airport Authority Board had submitted two names for consideration by City Council to fill vacancies with the renewal of Jimmy Collins and the appointment of John Curran.
Scott Niswonger, who had asked to speak to the board, suggested Colonel Don Johnson and Jack Miller.
When motions to both failed for lack of seconds, City Council sent the appointments back to the Airport Authority Board requesting more information into their selection process.
Meeting Wednesday, Airport Authority members agree their weighted system to grade potential board members works and agreed to send the same two recommendations back to the Council again.
Airport Authority Board member Justin Jeffers (pictured above) discussed his concerns with the City Council actions as it relates to the board appointments, especially the treatment of longtime Airport Authority Board member Jimmy Collins (pictured below)
Don Johnson and Jack Miller were both in attendance Wednesday, and spoke of their interest in being board members. Their comments however came after the board had already taken action on the matter, sending it back to the City Council.
Moving forward it was agreed anyone wishing to speak do so during the public comment time early in the agenda, prior to the board addressing any action item.
SKYKNIGHT
As it pertains to the Scott Niswonger owned Skyknight jet aircraft management and maintenance company, Airport Authority members agreed they as board chair Paul McAfee had said earlier, were “in the right” as it pertained to taking time to properly vet with legal council a proposal from the company pertaining to construction of a new hangar and operations at the airport.
After 13 weeks, Mr. Niswonger says the company finally received an initial response that he says did not provide a work or commercially viable path forward. As a result he says, they found themselves unable to proceed with the project in Greeneville which led to him redirecting plans for the airport investment and expansion from Greeneville to the state of Indiana.
The Airport Authority contends it reached out for a meeting, one which never happened.
