NATCHEZ, Miss. – County supervisors alleged some Natchez-Adams County Airport Commission members are meddling too much into the facility’s day-to-day operations and potentially creating conflicts of interest with the airport’s business dealings.
Supervisors said Monday they’ll consider whether to dissolve the five-member commission they appoint and have supervisors be the airport’s governing board.
Adams County Supervisor Kevin Wilson expressed concerns that Airport Commission members are “micromanaging” operations and could run off Director of Aviation Richard Nelson.
County board President Angela Hutchins agreed. “I don’t want (airport commissioners) to dictate to him how to run the airport,” she said, counting two commission members who are “calling the shots.”
No commission members’ names were mentioned during the Board of Supervisors’ discussions Monday.
Supervisor Ricky Gray said it appears at least one commission member is using his position to help someone get business with the airport.
Gray did not elaborate, but did say “If we’ve got a person with a conflict of interest, they need to be removed.”
As the Board of Supervisors decide whether to reappoint current Airport Commission members, Hutchins said some could be bumped out when their terms expire. Supervisors agreed Monday to further consider whether to dissolve the commission before deciding on appointments.
Members of the Natchez-Adams County Airport Commission in 2020 were Gary Holloway, David Gaude, Edward Ealey, Theodore Johnson and John McCullough.
The discussions about the commission comes a year after airport officials presented supervisors a master plan that includes runway resurfacing and new lighting at the aging facility. It dates back to1946, when the property was obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and runways built to military specifications. The existing terminal building was constructed in 1959 by Natchez and Adams County when the airport had passenger airlines serving the area.
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