Airport Board has no quorum again|[2/9/06]

Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 9, 2006

After another cancellation of an Airport Board meeting Wednesday because of a lack of quorum, Board President Kimble Slaton said he wants the City Board of Mayor and Aldermen to cut the number of members or appoint a new one.

Wednesday brought the third time in two months the board was unable to conduct business because of a lack of a quorum. Last week, one board member, Don Brown, said the board’s work was hindered by the shortage of board members in attendance.

The three members attending Wednesday’s special meeting, called to conduct business which could not be addressed because of last week’s lack of a quorum, were Slaton, Jay Kilroy and Bobby Burks.

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Brown and member Donald Cross had conflicts Wednesday, and the sixth member, Mark Stanley, said last week that the board’s meeting time of 8 a.m. consistently conflicts with his practice as a physician.

The airport board was created in August by city officials to manage the budget and take over the responsibility of the city-owned airport on U.S. 61 South. The board initially was to have five members, but Mayor Laurence Leyens said in August that an overwhelming response from people wanting to participate warranted seven members.

Slaton said the larger number is creating problems because four members must be present for a quorum.

The board is one member short because of a resignation last month of Louis Sullivan, who could not attend the meetings.

&#8220We made a recommendation for a replacement for Mr. Sullivan, and we’re expecting action on that at Friday’s board meeting,” Slaton said.

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield, the only City Board member available for comment Wednesday, said he expects an appointment soon, but he is not sure if it will happen during a regularly scheduled meeting Friday.

&#8220I think they need one more person as soon as possible,” Mayfield said.

The airport board is working on such projects as renovating, building T-hangars and installing remote lighting for the airport runway.