Friday, October 13, 2000
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Friday, October 13, 2000 |
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County explains airport takeover By JOHN THOMPSON The Coweta County Commission Tuesday afternoon finally explained why it took control of the Airport Authority earlier this year. The county's takeover has been a big bone of contention at recent political forums and in letters to local papers. Commissioner Jim McGuffey said he had finally heard enough and wanted to set the record straight. McGuffey explained that a 1996 audit of the authority was returned to the county as a "qualified" audit. A qualified audit can negatively affect bond rating, and the authority received the rating because its accounting practices are inadequate, McGuffey said. "We attempted to work out the problems, but they persisted," he said. In addition to the accounting problems, numerous troubling situations were occurring at the airport, he said. Some of the problems were: F Buildings were not being built as hangars, but as storage facilities. F Non-aviation work was taking place at the airport. F The buildings that were being built were not complying with building codes. The final straw was when the authority could not pay a loan that was guaranteed by the county, McGuffey said. "We are making a lot of changes because the liability stops with this commission," McGuffey said. Commission Chairman Vernon "Mutt" Hunter agreed with McGuffey, but wanted to make one thing clear. "We are not accusing anybody on the authority of malfeasance," he said. The other commissioners agreed and said it is possible the Airport Authority could return in its previous incarnation after the problems are solved.
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