RUTHERFORDTON —
Sometimes rumors can prove to be trouble.
For the Rutherford County Airport Authority, a rumor was used for a different purpose than one might think.
On Friday, airport employees as well as hangar operators learned that management at the airport would be changing in August.
However,
after investigating the rumor, it was learned by The Daily Courier that
the rumor was spread by an Airport Authority member to "see how long it
takes rumors to spread."
An
airport employee confirmed Friday that Authority vice-chairman Keith
Hunter was in the terminal stating the management of the airport would
change in August.
Even
though the Rutherford County Commission will be considering local
legislation which allows them to take over the Airport Authority and
move its management under the county umbrella, no changes have been
approved or even discussed on the county level.
In
fact, at Tuesday's Airport Authority meeting, it was decided that
Authority Chairman Bob Howard would continue managing the airport on
behalf of the Authority.
"I
did it to see how long it takes rumors to spread," Hunter said. "There
are people who stir up a lot of things at the airport and I will leave
it at that."
Howard said the rumor was started without his knowledge until after the fact it happened.
"Frankly, I didn't think it would go anywhere," Howard said. "If someone said that to me, it would just roll off."
Hunter
defended his action by saying the airport has "probably been looking
for a manager for a while." He also said there was no other intent in
starting the rumor other than to find out how long it would take to
spread around Marchman Field.
"Sometimes
you have to tell people things to find out who you can trust, see how
it comes out and how it gets turned around," Hunter said. "It was not
the intent to not trust people. I don't want it to seem like I don't
trust anyone because that's not the case."
Howard,
when asked if he thought the action was juvenile, said he did find it
fascinating just how fast it took anyone to call him about the rumor.
"I
don't condone it at all," Howard said. "But, when you get back and
think about it, who would have thought it would have gone anywhere?
"I agree that this is rather goofy. But, it is indicative as to what goes on at the airport. I don't like it."
At
Tuesday's meeting of the Authority, it was suggested that the newest
member of the Authority — Kyle Hankinson — assume the management of the
airport.
"I
would need to get an idea on the workload because I have a good
workload now with military and civilian jobs," Hankinson said during the
meeting. "I would like a description of what the expectations are for
the manager."
For
the time being, the Authority elected to keep Howard as manager, until
the county decides what it will do with the organization.
Commissioners
asked County Manager Carl Classen for facts and figures regarding the
Airport Authority before taking up House Bill 290, which allows the
Commission to serve as the Airport Authority, if it chooses.
Commissioners are planning to take up the Authority question during its August meeting.
As for the airport management rumor, Howard said there was no harm intended.
"I can understand how some people would think it was childish," Howard said.
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