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State Auditor Recommends Overhaul Of Airport Board

Kentucky Auditor Adam Edelen is recommending an overhaul of the board that oversees the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport.

But the proposal could encounter resistance as it makes its way through the Kentucky General Assembly.

The board that oversees the airport has been in turmoil with the resignations of its chairman and vice chairman and questions about extravagant spending at conferences.

As it stands, Kenton County's judge-executive now appoints the seven voting members of the airport board's executive committee. On Tuesday, Edelen proposed changing the composition of the board to include voices from Kentucky’s neighbor to the north – a move some lawmakers in Frankfort might be hesitant to endorse.

"Certainly this is a Kentucky asset and Kentucky would remain in control and, under my plan, only three of the eleven board seats would be given to Ohio leaders. But it's clear that the economic destiny of Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati are bound and we need a regional approach to grow that airport," he told WUKY.

Under Edelen’s proposal, the Kenton County judge-executive would choose three members. Judge-executives in Boone and Campbell counties in Kentucky would select two and one, respectively, while Kentucky's governor would make two appointments.

In Ohio, the governor, Cincinnati mayor and Hamilton County Board of Commissioners would appoint one member each.

Josh James fell in love with college radio at Western Kentucky University's student station, New Rock 92 (now Revolution 91.7). After working as a DJ and program director, he knew he wanted to come home to Lexington and try his hand in public radio.