Following a takeover of the Jackson Airport last year, a new board will be appointed to oversee the airport.
“The law is that the Governor will have two appointments, the Lt. Governor will have one, the Mayor of Jackson will have one, the City Council of Jackson will have one, there are two spots that are by statute, the Adjutant General and MDA director or their designee will be on there and then you will have one from Rankin and one from Madison, so that is a total of nine new members,” said Josh Harkins, Senator from Rankin County.
Previously there was a great deal of controversy in handing the authority of overseeing the airport over to the state.
He said that the appointments will be made most likely during the next legislative session, however, he added that a lawsuit needs to be taken care of before any appointments are finalized.
The lawsuit was brought about by Jackson City Council members, former Mayor Tony Yarber and members of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority who are suing state elected officials who had any involvement with passing the airport takeover bill back in 2016.
However, Harkins added that he sees the new appointments as a way to revitalize the Jackson Airport.
“If the airport improves under this, the benefit goes to the city,” said Harkins. “The city benefits from it as do all the citizens who use the airport.”
Harkins added that the City of Jackson would still hold the majority of members on the board.
