Airport Scandal in Kentucky

Dear Congressman,

As you probably do not know, even though I live in your district in Butler county, Ohio, I hop in my car and drive the 35 miles every day down into Kentucky to work for the Kenton County Airport Board as the accounting manager for CVG airport. Of all the accounting work I have performed, this is the most "buttoned down" and professional organization I have ever worked for, with a solid commitment to making sure the finance department produces factual and accurate information at all times.

And meanwhile, about 100 miles south at Lexington Bluegrass Airport....a time line

Nov. 23, 2008: Herald-Leader articles show that Michael Gobb, Blue Grass Airport's executive director, spent more than $200,000 in travel and other expenses from January 2006 through March 2008.

Nov. 25: Lexington Vice Mayor Jim Gray calls for an investigation of Gobb's expenses.

Dec. 2: State Auditor Crit Luallen confirms that she is examining the finances of the airport.


Dec. 23: The airport board announces that it has suspended Gobb with pay while it conducts an investigation.

Jan. 2, 2009: Gobb resigns at a special board meeting that had been called to discuss firing him.


Jan. 5: Bernard Lovely, chairman of the airport board, says that he will cancel the credit cards of seven airport officials after finding that three airport employees charged $5,080 at a Texas strip club on an airport credit card.


Jan. 6: Luallen says she has notified law enforcement agencies of possible criminal wrongdoing at the airport; the Urban County Council asks Lovely to step down as chairman.


Jan 11: Lexington Herald Leader reports that ", the four lieutenants to the former head of Blue Grass Airport rang up about $332,000 in charges on their airport-issued credit cards over the last three years. Based on the range of charges to the airport, the cards served almost as all-access passes for lavish indulgences and everyday needs for the men, all of whom receive six-figure salaries. Electronic toys, tickets to sporting events, a jaunt to a strip club and numerous cross-country trips were put on the airport's tab, according to the Herald-Leader's review of credit-card statements. Among the charges were payments for golf lessons, Christmas presents for co-workers and nearly $2,200 for six tickets to the December 2007 Hannah Montana concert at Rupp Arena."

Folks... you can not make this stuff up. As they were also an "Airport Board" as authorized under Kentucky law, for the life of me I can not understand how their controlling board members let five employees get away with running up over $500,000 in total expenses over the course of 2-3 years.

As a result, I expect that my airport and Louisville's will be receiving inquiries from the Kentucky State Auditor's office to make sure there are no more surprises out there.

Sometimes you get frustrated by all the rules, but then things like this remind you why all those rules exist.