In the almost never-ending saga of major problems with the Shreveport Airport Authority (SAA), the sudden resignation of airport director Wade Davis for “personal reasons” should alarm even the most ardent supporters of the SAA Board of Directors.

Davis was hired in January of last year.

Mary Jackson, Oliver Jenkins, Waynette Ballengee and chairman Jonathan Reynolds have done little to nothing to address, much less solve, continuing problems with the airport management.

And new board member Kay Medlin has now added her name to the list of culpable appointees.

The most telling reality was the discovery last fall of jetway mechanical problems resulting from years of benign neglect. This was revealed after Davis had been on the job for almost nine months.

When Davis was before the Shreveport City Council earlier this year, he strongly urged to discipline those members of the SAA staff that contributed to this failure.

Davis recently testified before a Louisiana Senate committee concerning proposed legislation addressing the ownership of hangars at regional and downtown airports. Even his supporters acknowledged that he was less than impressive.

The SAA has been cited several times for failures to comply with the Open Meetings Law that requires posting of agendas and minutes on the SAA website.

Shreveport City Ordinance Sec. 18-38 requires the SAA to submit an annual report to the mayor and the council by March 31 of this year. Additionally, quarterly reports are to be filed.

Not surprisingly, these requirements have not been met.

The track record of the SAA board and its employees reflect an attitude of total indifference that is not only unacceptable but borders on being criminal.

The big question now is who will be the interim director? Presumably, the SAA Board makes a recommendation to the mayor who must obtain council approval.

Stacy Kuba has worn the hat of interim director previously, and her reviews are dismal at best and abominable at worst. She is also a key player in the ongoing litigation against the SAA and will be a key witness in the trials.

It’s time for a new outside player to fill the interim director shoes. And after that for a full audit by the Shreveport internal auditor of the SAA.

In the process, the resignations of the SAA board members should be requested if not demanded, by the mayor and/or the city council.

THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE May 28 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR.