Both claim authority over the airport. Both say the other is illegitimate.
Dueling Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority boards met at the same time Monday. One, with six commissioners appointed by the state and three vacant seats yet to be selected by Mayor Tim Kelly, met at the airport. One, with nine members all selected by the mayor, met in his office to discuss their legal future.
The state’s attempted takeover of the airport boards in Chattanooga, Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis has led to a flurry of legal battles across the municipalities and within the Federal Aviation Administration.
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Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, heavily pushed legislation this year changing the way local airport board members are appointed. A statement last month attributed to the speaker said the cities contributed “literally zero dollars,” and that “the state merely wishes to have board appointments based off the amount of investment we have made to airports.”