AIRPORT BOARD MEMBER QUITS; WALKER CRITICIZES MARKETING PLAN, LEADERSHIP

A Cape Girardeau Regional Airport Advisory Board member has resigned, citing what he called a lack of an aggressive airport marketing plan and inept leadership.

The board member, William H. Walker, said this week in a letter of resignation to the Cape Girardeau City Council that "the airport is a liability, not an asset."

"In fact," he wrote, "it is a growing liability, and one the citizens of Cape Girardeau should be unwilling to continue funding."

Walker, who has served on the board for about eight years, told the Southeast Missourian Friday that a change of attitude toward the airport is needed and efforts should be directed at making it self-sustaining.

Walker, who has a doctorate degree in business administration, an undergraduate major in professional aviation and a minor in airport administration, criticized the airport manager, Greg Chenoweth, for not being aggressive enough.

Chenoweth has been airport manager since December 1994, coming to Cape Girardeau from a similar position at Hutchinson, Kan.

Walker and a couple of other advisory board members expressed frustrations with operations at the airport and have approached Michael Miller, Cape Girardeau city manager, about them.

"We're not perfect," said Miller. "But we're making some very concerted efforts to make improvements at the airport. I'm sorry Dr. Walker feels the way he does, but he is entitled to his opinions."

Miller said some board members believe they have not been kept informed. But, he said, "We've tried to react to this; we've stepped up the involvement of the board."

J. Fred Waltz, a Cape Girardeau lawyer who is chairman of the board, called the airport an outstanding one.

"Our job as advisory board members is to develop strategies to enhance the facilities," said Waltz. "We are an advisory board, not a governing body, and we try to be positive in our suggestions."

Marketing the airport is a concern, said Waltz. "I don't think we can say that the city doesn't have a commitment, and any board member who feels this way should resign," he said.

Waltz said the board is fortunate to have people with airport management skills. Included on the nine-member board are Randy Holdman and Mark Seesing, former airport managers.