By Mike Perleberg
(Frankfort, Ky.) – Changes are coming to the board that rules the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is expected to sign a bill into law that restructures the Kenton County Airport Board. The bill passed the House on Tuesday with a 95-2 vote, a day after the Senate passed it 37-0. The legislation was revived after concerns of a lack of time necessary to get it to a vote in the House of Representatives. Although the airport is located in Boone County, it is owned by Kenton County. Currently, all seven board members are appointed exclusively by the Kenton County Judge-Executive. The new law going into effect July 1 will expand the airport board from seven voting members to 13. Kenton County will control eight of the appointments while Boone County will receive two, Grant County one, Campbell County one, and one appointed by the Governor of Kentucky. The Kenton County Fiscal Court must approve of each appointment. Ohio will have some input on board members as well. The City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County can each submit a nomination for two additional seats to be appointed by the Kenton County Fiscal Court. Those individuals must still be Kentucky residents. Under the law, the airport board will not have southeast Indiana representation or influence. Local and state officials began clamoring for changes to the board last year after a report by Kentucky State Auditor Adam Edelen, who cited the board makeup and process of appointments as a problem. Edelen’s investigation was prompted by a Cincinnati Enquirer report about alleged overspending on trips and meals for board members, as well as agreements that have led to CVG consistently being ranked the most expensive airport in the nation. “You can’t change the culture without changing the structure,” Edelen said. “If it’s only operating as an appendage of the judge executive in Kenton County, it won’t run for the full benefit of the region.” The board changes have been endorsed by current Kenton County Judge-Executive Kris Knockelmann. RELATED STORIES: House Leader Won’t Allow CVG Airport Board Bill To Go To Vote Audit Calls For Sweeping Change Of CVG Board; Airport Is Not Kenton Co’s, Auditor Says Ky. Auditor To Review Airport Board Spending
State Road 156 to Close Near North Branch Road, Reopen Near Evans Hill Road
Cincinnati Man Arrested Following Police Pursuit in Carroll County
Milan Students Enjoy Three-Day Jedi Knight Camp
Whitewater Canal State Historic Site to Close Permanently at End of Summer
Weather Forecast Causes Cancellation of Litter Clean-up on Cole Lane Hill
UPDATE: SWAT Called to Union Home After Shots Fired at Landscaping Crew
