The Metro Nashville government retains the authority to appoint the members of the Nashville Airport Authority, the Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled on Monday.
In 2023, the Tennessee General Assembly amended the Metropolitan Airport Authority Act, which allows a city with a population exceeding 100,000 to establish an airport authority.
The General Assembly amended the act, stating that airport authority boards could be vacated in Tennessee counties with a population exceeding 500,000. The new board would consist of two people appointed by the Tennessee Speaker of the House and the Speaker of the Senate. Furthermore, the governor and the county mayor could each appoint two members.
Under the 2023 Tennessee Public Acts, the state would grant these boards the authority to “exercise eminent domain powers, regulate aircraft hazards, and control sections of public streets and public utilities via license or easement,” according to the ruling.
After this adjustment, Metro Nashville filed a complaint against the state, citing the Home Rule Amendment, which allows “a city may adopt and change its own charter by local referendum,” according to the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service.
In addition, Metro Nashville alleged that the act violated the state Constitution’s equal protection provision.
The trial court ruled in this case that the act violated the Home Rule Amendment and the state Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.
Tennessee appealed this decision.
Judge Thomas Frierson II said in the Tennessee Court of Appeals’ ruling that the lower court erred in saying that it violated Metro Nashville’s right to appoint members to the airport authority.
Moreover, the ruling reversed the lower court’s decision regarding other parts of the act that violated the Equal Protection Clause.
According to NewsChannel5, the airport authority stated that it would review the court’s decision after the ruling.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at [email protected].
Photo “Nashville International Airport” by Nashville International Airport.
“Nashville” controls the “Nashville” Airport Authority…. how novel…