Raises are approved for airport personnel

High praise was given for Upper Cumberland Regional Airport director Dean Selby and assistant director Heather McBride when discussing raises for the two for all the work they do.

It was brought to attention at the monthly UCRA Board of Directors’ meeting by White County executive Denny Wayne Robinson that the two were not given raises when countywide raises were being discussed by both White and Putnam counties. To fix this, raises were approved for both. Assistant director McBride was brought to $55,000, with retroactive pay to July 1. Director Selby was brought to $95,000, but he was also promised $5,000 more once he gets his AAE (Accredited Airport Executive).

At the end of the Oct. 14  board meeting, Executive Robinson took a moment to address the fact those two did not get a raise.

“I feel this should have been handled during the budget process, and I apologize for that,” he said.

Putnam County executive Randy Porter and Cookeville mayor Laurin Wheaton also took responsibility for that fact.

Director Selby then gave a brief speech to the board, primarily listing off everything Heather McBride does for the airport and why she deserved the raise. He also laid out his own credentials to justify a raise for himself and mentioned that the raise he was asking for is on the lower end for airport directors with his level of experience.

What followed was several airport workers, former board members, and current board members all giving their support behind Selby and McBride. The engineer for the airport mentioned just how much money Selby saves for the airport by doing things himself. Wiring, working on engines, or just taking up any task that usually would require a contractor, it means that Director Selby has likely saved the airport dozens more than what the raise would entail.

All board members voted in agreement to give the raises. They agreed on how much Selby has done for the airport, and they all believe McBride has been a huge aid in helping everywhere she can.

In other news, the airport will be hosting their Trunk or Treat with Planes event, on Oct. 25. It is one of the airport’s favorite events to host, with kids getting to see the airport a lot closer and personally. Selby said everything has gone smoothly on assuring safety with the event once again, but when asked if they would need candy, he said, “We always need candy.”

While they did not run out last year, the airport did run out the year before. With that in mind, Selby is happy to take any candy donations possible for the airport’s Trunk or Treat.

The airport also reported on an audit performed recently, and the accountant present was happy to report no findings once again. He claimed he had only good things to share and ran the board members through some of the details in the report.

For fuel sales, the airport has remained steady once again, though there had been a slight increase in sales in August. The sales have remained rather consistent and steady from month to month.