The city-appointed Metro Nashville Airport Authority board voted unanimously on Wednesday to ratify 19 actions taken during the tenure of the previous board, which state officials appointed some of its members in accordance with a new Tennessee law.
After the Tennessee General Assembly passed a law in June, the Nashville mayor, Tennessee governor, and top two lawmakers in the Tennessee General Assembly would each select two members for the board. The board was selected and began operating, but a ruling by a panel of three judges at the Tennessee Chancery Court agreed with Metro Nashville’s argument that the law violates the Tennessee Constitution because it only applied to one Tennessee city.
Following the court’s decision, the board again became selected by the Nashville mayor and approved by the Metro Nashville Council. However, the Metro-appointed board only resumed after the previous board took nearly 20 actions to achieve the construction of a second terminal and speed up ongoing road construction by about a year, according to the Nashville Business Journal.
The outlet reported that the Metro-appointed board followed lawyers’ advice and formally accepted “17 contract approvals, including the hiring of a firm to recommend where a second terminal should be built,” and a 50 percent pay raise and contract extension for Airport Authority CEO Doug Kreulen. The board also voted to advance its move to reduce the time it will take to move Donelson Pike, which the Business Journal reported must be relocated before the airport can expand its road network.
Under the plans ratified by the Metro-appointed board, the outlet reported the airport authority will fund additional work shifts for TDOT contractors to speed up the road construction.
The board’s decision to move forward with its predecessors’ plans comes after Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti appealed the chancery court’s ruling on December 1. A spokesman said Skrmetti’s office looks “forward to litigating this case to a clear and decisive resolution so airport leadership can focus on serving our community and our visitors” when the appeal was launched, but there have been no subsequent filings by the attorney general.
Two board members appointed under the new law reportedly refused to resign their positions after the court’s decision, disputing claims from Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and city officials that they voluntarily relinquished their positions. O’Connell ultimately decided against replacing the board members after they continued attending board meetings in defiance of his claims.
When the court ruled against the state law, State Representative Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville), who introduced the legislation, called the decision “a major setback for transparency and fair representation” for the state’s taxpayers. Garrett promised he would “continue to fight for the success” of Tennessee’s state investments and applauded Skrmetti’s “hard work” on the issue.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Nashville International Airport” by Nashville International Airport.
