This is an undated file photo of a Delta Airlines jet taking off from West Virginia International Yeager Airport in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
Gazette-Mail file photo
Wednesday's monthly meeting of the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority — the board that governs ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä's West Virginia International Yeager Airport — was the last for its long-time chairman and 32-year member Ed Hill, along with three other veteran board members.
Hill, a ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä attorney, along with former West Virginia Adjutant General Allen Tackett, coal operator Andrew Jordon, and retired McJunkin Corporation CEO Bernie Wehrle were not reappointed as Kanawha County representatives to the airport board by the Kanawha County Commission when their terms were set to expire earlier this month.
The 15-member governing board includes eight members representing Kanawha County, with the remaining members representing Boone, Putnam, Lincoln and Nicholas counties and the City of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
Hill, who is also a private pilot, said he was honored to have served on the airport board during an era of significant change, including transforming the airport's general aviation terminal from a cramped, dingy facility "that didn't smell good," to today's more comfortable and attractive Capital Jet Center.
Hill said he also took pride in how the airport board helped fight off an attempt to relocate commercial air service from Yeager to a proposed regional airport in Lincoln County.
"For a capital city, ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä has the most convenient, easy to use airport in the country," Hill said.
"It's been my pleasure to serve on the board," said Tackett, a 12-year member. While a plan to extend the airport's runway into Coonskin Park has been put on hold by the Federal Aviation Administration, "I still think extending the runway should remain the most important objective of this board," Tackett said.
"These gentlemen have been a tremendous asset to the airport board," said Kanawha County Commission President Ben Salango, who is also a member of the airport board. "Ultimately, their appointments expired, and the commission decided to appoint a few new members to the board. We truly appreciate their decades of service to the board and Kanawha County."Â
On June 5, the Kanawha County Commission signed orders appointing replacements for Hill, Tackett, Jordon and Wehrle. Appointed were:
Booth Goodwin, a ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä lawyer, former U.S. Attorney and husband of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin
Paul Saluja, ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä immigration attorney
Tristan Leavitt, ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä attorney and House of Delegates member
Kyle Mork, CEO of Greylock Energy in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä
Re-appointed to represent Kanawha County on the airport board were Salango, Lisa Pack and Todd Goldman.
An election of officers is scheduled for the authority's next meeting on July 23.
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