A dispute between the Baxter County Airport Commission and County Judge Kevin Litty may need to be decided in court. Near the end of October, Chairman Dr. Steven Vester announced the commission filed legal action against the county and Judge Litty, claiming he has interfered with airport operations and potentially jeopardized federal funding. In his announcement, Dr. Vester stated the legal action is a petition for a declaratory judgment to determine authority over the airport.
During a recent appearance on KTLO-FM with Heather Loftis, Judge Litty stated the legal action is over a matter that started in 2017.
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Judge Litty had intended to seek the Baxter County Quorum Court’s support to sign a lease and use agreement during its previous session on Nov. 4, but prior to the meeting, the airport commission filed another legal document. A temporary restraining order is preventing the quorum court from voting on the measure. During the airport commission’s most recent meeting last week, Dr. Vester said a court date is expected to occur this month to determine if the restraining order should be lifted or turned into a permanent injunction.
Judge Litty says the current airport commission is looking to change the terms of the current lease agreement, but it’s his belief that whether or not the commission likes the terms of the agreement is irrelevant.
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Judge Litty says it’s his understanding that the airport commission does have the authority to negotiate the terms of the lease agreement, but the authority to sign it resides with him.
In his announcement of the legal action, Dr. Vester stated, “The Airport is in a status of ‘Pending Non-Compliance’ with the Federal Government, and as such, the County stands to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in future Federal funding for the airport unless matters are corrected. Mr. Litty in his position as the County Judge has blocked the actions of the Commission to correct these deficiencies. As such he has placed the County into a position of potential liability or loss.”
Dr. Vester said during last week’s meeting the county has 30 days from the time the lawsuit was filed to issue a response. To his knowledge, a response has not been filed. Click here for the airport commission’s legal complaint.
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