In a unanimous vote, Johnston County Commissioners have requested the local delegation in the NC General Assembly introduce a bill allowing the Johnston County Airport Authority Board to expand.
The Airport Authority oversees operations at the Johnston County Airport near Smithfield. The board currently has five members but commissioners want that to expand to seven members.
Commissioners adopted a resolution during their May 2020 meeting asking state representatives to introduce a local bill allowing for the change.
Chairman Ted Godwin said the expansion is due to the growth of the airport and the county.
Commissioner Tony Braswell asked if the seven airport authority seats would line up with the seven county commission districts. Chairman Godwin said that was not included in the proposed legislation. Godwin said there may be two very-well qualified candidates from the same district but no candidates from another district.
The resolution does not require the authority board members be a resident of Johnston County, however Commissioner Patrick Harris said all members should be from the county.
