A debate on reappointing members of the Tullahoma Airport Authority (TAA) ended with a called election, where one member was reappointed, and two new members joined the authority.

The first discussion was whether BoMA should reappoint Brad Holt and Skip Farr to TAA. However, Glick again pumped the brakes on reappointing Farr and Holt, pointing to issues that went on at the airport. Glick referred to earlier statements when it came to the present makeup of the Airport Authority.

“When they were having a lot of problems out there, she said they got no help from other board members,” he recalled Airport Chairman Karla Smith saying, noting Farr and Holt were on that board. “So I think that’s why it may be better just to move on.”

Alderman Matthew Bird suggested by reappointing the two experienced members before appointing three new members to the board to fill all the vacancies that it might help in the transition. Glick disagreed, saying all the new applicants seemed intelligent and should have no problem learning the airport.

“Most of them are already airport users,” Glick said.

Mayor Lynn Sebourn interjected that a number of the applicants for the Airport Authority have hangers they lease or own.

“That’s not a problem because you can recuse yourself,” he said. “But we want to be careful that we don’t appoint so many hanger owners that the recusals could end up with a lack of a quorum.”

City Attorney Brittany Hoskins said there must be four members voting to have a quorum. As for the spots that are or will be open, there were two five-year terms ending Feb. 27, 2031, and one term that will end Feb. 27, 2029. A vote was then called and nominations commenced. The six applicants up for the appointments included George “Skip” Farr, Brad Holt, Brandon Champion, Sam Crimm, John Manis, and Steve McKamey.

Aldermen Jerry Mathis nominated Sam Crimm for one of the spots. Glick nominated John Manis. Matthew Bird nominated Brad Holt. The city council used written ballots to cast their preferences. Holt and Crimm received the most votes during the first round of voting. Crimm ended up getting four votes during the second round and was appointed to the Authority for a term that will run through 2031.

For the second spot on the Authority, Glick nominated Manis again. Bird nominated Skip Farr. The mayor nominated Steve McKamey. Manis and Farr made it to the second round of voting with Farr getting the reappointment to 2031.

Manis and McKamey were the two nominated for the seat that will expire in 2029. McKamey won the last spot making the new members McKamey, Crimm and Farr.