Bill expanding state control over Tri-Cities Airport heads to floor vote in TN House

NASHVILLE — A bill that would give the state authority to appoint the majority of airport board members is heading to a full vote in the Tennessee House of Representatives. HB2507 would vacate all current municipal airport board members, including those governing the Tri-Cities Airport, as well the airports located in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville and Memphis. Those board members would be replaced by six state-appointed members, while three seats would be left for the cities to appoint. The Tri-Cities Airport Authority is currently governed by 12 members. Johnson City has three appointments to the 12-person board, while Kingsport and Bristol have two. The rest of the appointments are made between Sullivan and Washington Counties. The legislation would likely give Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol only a single appointment each. It would also likely result in removing Sullivan and Washington Counties' appointing authorities altogether. Johnson City City Manager Cathy Ball expressed support for local control over airport boards in an emailed statement to Six Rivers Media. Ball currently serves on the Tri-Cities Airport Authority board, and would be removed from her seat if the legislation were to pass in its current form. "I can say that it seems appropriate and important to have local control on the board, especially when the local municipality has invested in the airport," Ball wrote. "Local representatives are attune[d] to the specific needs of the communities served by our Tri-Cities Regional Airport." Ball noted that her comments could be premature, given that the bill might undergo changes before being passed. The legislation would bar employees of the participating cities from serving on the boards. Currently, the Tri-Cities Airport Authority has multiple city employees, including Ball and Kingsport City Manager Chris McCartt. Local members of the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Alderman also expressed concern over the legislation during a meeting Tuesday. Alderman Gary Mayes described the legislation as "alarming." He said the Tri-Cities Airport's current board is largely to credit for the airport's positive financial position, and that a state-appointed board would be more heavily politicized. "When we shift control of the airport to Nashville, it raises the specter of politics," Mayes said. "And so I'm very concerned about how our airport is going to change, or potentially change, when the designation of leadership or members of the board are controlled by Nashville, rather than local governments [who have] been running the airport for decades, and running it well." Alderman Morris Baker said locally-appointed board members are more accountable to the people they serve, while state-appointed members are further removed from that accountability. He also warned the legislation could create a slippery slope that might lead to further state control over utilities, development boards or regional authorities. "Decisions about assets that are built, supported and lived with by a community should remain closely tied to the people that they serve," Baker said. The Tri-Cities Airport did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the story. The bill cleared two committee votes along party lines, seeing unanimous support from Republicans — including that of local state Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough. Majority Whip Johnny Garret, R-Goodlettsville, carried the bill in the House. During the House Transportation Committee last week, Garrett said that since the airports are partially funded by state tax revenues, the members of those boards should also be appointed by the state. "All Tennesseans should have some skin in the game… since all Tennesseans do pay for those airports," Garrett said. The house bill heads to a full vote, while its companion bill is on next week's agenda for the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee.