20-03-2025
NCWV Airport Authority honors one of its own after death
BRIDGEPORT — The Benedum Airport Authority paid tribute to Burley 'Butch' Tennant Tuesday.
Tennant, who was a member of the airport authority's board of directors, died March 14.
'He was a big believer in taking care of the people who work there,' Board Member Randy Elliott said. 'Common qualities he had we that the employees came first, and he made sure he voiced his opinion about that.'
Elliott said Tennant always advocated for airport employees to receive bonuses every year at Christmas, particularly whenever the airport had a good year. Elliott said the airport authority does its work as a joint effort, with ideas about the direction of the airport emerging from its director Rick Rock.
That said, the members of the board still chose to pass a resolution honoring Tennant's work at the airport authority. Marion County Commissioner Ernie VanGilder read the resolution.
'Burley D. 'Butch' Tennant Jr. was known for his constant and infectious smile,' VanGilder said. 'And his insightfulness and informing comments.'
After memorializing Tennant, the group moved on to the rest of its business. Deputy Airport Director Shawn Long led the meeting since Rock was in Colorado for a conference.
Rock met with four different airlines at the conference to make sure the North Central West Virginia Airport has multiple bids for this year's bid cycle. The U.S. Department of Transportation runs a program that seeks bids for Essential Air Service, vital for bringing airlines to service smaller and rural airports for communities like the one in Clarksburg.
'We wouldn't have air service daily if it wasn't for it,' Rock said. 'This is an opportunity for us. Our choices will be to keep what we have with Contour going to Charlotte or potentially see who else bids. Obviously, I'm looking to grow air service at airport, fill up our new terminal, so I'm making sure that we have multiple bids and something for us to go and review and pick the right one that will give us the best air service for North Central West Virginia.'
Rock said American Airlines, United Airlines, Allegiant, Air Wisconsin and SkyWest Airlines were the carriers he met with. Rock also said he likes the service to Charlotte, but a route change is also possible, depending on what bids come in.
The board also went into executive session to discuss litigation the airport is currently facing. Board President David Hinkle he wasn't sure which lawsuit the board would discuss ahead of the session, since the board is facing several. The board is currently facing five lawsuits from 2025.
Two of them, Maple Lake Club and All About Dogs, have to do with the Move the Mountain project. Plaintiffs in those lawsuits allege the airport didn't appropriately manage runoff from the project leading to damage to the property of both of those entities. The other three lawsuits were filed around the same time as All About Dogs and Maple Lake. The most current action in the Maple Lake lawsuit was notice of a video-recorded deposition of Deputy Director Long. The cases continue to wind through the court system.
