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Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 183.132: Local air boards.

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  1. KRS Chapter 183

(1) Any urban-county government, city, or county, or city and county acting jointly, or

any combination of two (2) or more cities, counties, or both, may establish a

nonpartisan air board composed of six (6) members or, under subsection (7) of this

section, of eleven (11), twelve (12), or thirteen (13) members. Any city other than

the first class and county jointly or an urban -county government established

pursuant to KRS Chapter 67A may establish a nonpartisan board composed of ten

(10) members. Any existing s ix (6) member board, including a board established in

an urban-county government, may be expanded to ten (10) members by action of

the government entity or entities that established the six (6) member board.

(2) Any city of the first class, jointly with th e county containing the city or a

consolidated local government, may establish or maintain a nonpartisan air board.

Membership of the board shall be appointed in accordance with subsection (9) or

(14) of this section. Any air board established or maintaine d in a county containing

a city of the first class or consolidated local government shall be composed of

eleven (11) members.

(3) In the case where a nonpartisan air board composed of six (6) members is created

by cities, counties, or both, those cities, c ounties, or both may pass ordinances and

adjust any existing memorandum of agreement to allow a state university which

operates an aviation degree program approved by the Council on Postsecondary

Education under KRS 164.020 to be a constituent party to the air board. In that

case, the board shall be eight (8) members in total, and the university shall nominate

for appointment two (2) members to the air board as set out in subsection (6) of this

section.

(4) The board shall be a body politic and corporate wi th the usual corporate attributes,

and in its corporate name may sue and be sued, contract and be contracted with, and

do all things reasonable or necessary to effectively carry out the duties prescribed

by statute. The board shall constitute a legislative body for the purposes of KRS

183.630 to 183.740.

(5) The members of an air board composed of six (6) members shall be appointed as

follows:

(a) If the air board is established by a city, the members shall be appointed by the

mayor of the city;

(b) If the air board is established as a joint city -county air board, the members

shall be appointed jointly by the mayor of the city and the county

judge/executive;

(c) If a combination of cities, counties, or both, establishes a joint air board, the

mayors and coun ty judges/executive involved shall jointly choose six (6)

members and shall jointly choose successors;

(d) If the air board is established by an urban -county government, the mayor of

the urban -county government or an officer of the urban -county government

designated by the mayor shall serve as one (1) member of the board. The

remaining five (5) members shall be appointed by the mayor. One (1) of the

members appointed by the mayor shall live within a three (3) mile radius of

the airport.

(6) If an air board is composed of eight (8) members that are a combination of cities,

counties, or both, and an eligible state university as set out in subsection (3) of this

section, then the mayors, county judges/executive, and university board of regents

involved shall jointly choose eight (8) members and shall jointly choose successors.

In making the appointment for the university, the president of the university shall

submit for confirmation the name of the individual and the university's board of

regents shall confirm h is or her nomination before the individual's name is

submitted for joint appointment.

(7) If the air board is established by a county, the members shall be appointed by the

county judge/executive, except that in the event that an airport is located outside the

boundary of the county establishing the airport board, the voting members of the air

board are appointed as follows:

(a) One (1) member appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth;

(b) Ten (10), eleven (11), or twelve (12) members appointed from the following

jurisdictions located within a twenty (20) mile radius of the airport operations:

1. Eight (8) members appointed by the judge/executive of the county

establishing the air board, with the approval of the county fiscal court. If

the air board is located within a metropolitan statistical area, as defined

by the United States Bureau of t he Census, the county judge/executive,

with the approval of the county fiscal court, may choose to appoint two

(2) of these members as follows:

a. One (1) member may be appointed following nomination by the

chief executive officer of the largest city withi n the metropolitan

statistical area;

b. One (1) member may be appointed following nomination by the

chief executive officer of the county containing the largest city

within the metropolitan statistical area, if that county does not

already have representation on the board; and

c. The county judge/executive of the county establishing the air

board may choose whether to invite the chief executive officers

identified in subdivisions a. and b. of this subparagraph to

nominate members. If the county judge/execut ive does invite a

chief executive officer to make a nomination and the chief

executive officer makes a nomination, the county judge/executive

may choose whether to appoint that nominee or to appoint another

person instead;

2. Two (2) members appointed by the county judge/executive of the county

containing the majority of territory encompassing the airport. This

appointment shall be made with the approval of both the fiscal court of

the county containing the majority of territory encompassing the airport

and the fiscal court of the county establishing the air board; and

3. One (1) or two (2) additional members, if there are any counties within

the prescribed geographic limits that do not otherwise have an

appointment to the air board. If there is one (1) such county, this

appointment shall be made by the county judge/executive of that county,

with the approval of that county's fiscal court. If there are two (2) or

more such counties, these appointments shall be made by the county

judges/executive of the two (2 ) counties among them having the largest

population, and the appointments shall receive the approval of those

respective counties' fiscal courts and the fiscal court of the county

establishing the air board; and

(c) Board members of any air board establish ed prior to June 24, 2015, that is

operating an airport that is located outside the boundary of the county

establishing the airport board shall serve out the remainder of their terms.

Additional voting members shall assume their offices on the July 1 follo wing

June 24, 2015, and be appointed as follows:

1. The member appointed by the Governor shall be appointed for an initial

term of one (1) year;

2. One (1) member from the county containing the majority of territory

encompassing the airport shall be appointed for an initial term of two (2)

years;

3. One (1) member from the county containing the majority of territory

encompassing the airport shall be appointed for an initial term of three

(3) years;

4. One (1) member from the county establishing the airport board shall be

appointed for an initial term of four (4) years; and

5. If there are any, the members from the counties that are not otherwise

represented on the air board within the prescribed geographic limit shall

be appointed for an initial term of four (4) years.

Thereafter, their replacements shall serve a full four (4) year term. All

members may be reappointed for subsequent terms. The majority of all air

board appointees shall be residents of the county establishing the air board.

(8) The members of an air board composed of ten (10) members in a city other than a

city of the first class and county jointly other than an urban -county government

established pursuant to KRS Chapter 67A shall be appointed as follows:

(a) Five (5) members shall be appointe d by the mayor of the city, without

approval of the legislative body;

(b) Five (5) members shall be appointed by the county judge/executive without

approval of the other members of the fiscal court.

(9) An air board consisting of eleven (11) members and es tablished jointly by a city of

the first class and the county containing the first class city shall be composed of

members as follows:

(a) The mayor of the city of the first class;

(b) The county judge/executive of the county containing the city of the first class;

(c) Three (3) members appointed by the mayor of the city of the first class;

(d) Three (3) members appointed by the county judge/executive of the county,

with the approval of the fiscal court;

(e) Two (2) members, who shall be residents of the co unty containing a city of

the first class or of counties contiguous thereto, appointed by the Governor;

and

(f) One (1) member, who shall be a member of the executive board of an

incorporated alliance of incorporated neighborhood associations and cities

with a population of less than three thousand (3,000) based upon the most

recent federal decennial census which represents citizens living within a five

(5) mile radius of airport operations, appointed by the Governor. If more than

one (1) incorporated allia nce exists, the Governor shall select the appointee

from the executive boards of any of the incorporated alliances. If no alliances

exist, the Governor shall appoint a citizen of the county who resides within a

five (5) mile radius of airport operations.

(10) An air board consisting of eleven (11) members and established or maintained by a

consolidated local government upon its establishment shall be composed of

members as follows:

(a) The mayor of the consolidated local government;

(b) Seven (7) members a ppointed by the mayor of the consolidated local

government;

(c) Two (2) members who shall be residents of the county containing the

consolidated local government or residents of counties contiguous to the

county containing the consolidated local government , appointed by the

Governor; and

(d) One (1) member who shall be a member of the executive board of an

incorporated alliance of incorporated neighborhood associations and cities

with a population of less than three thousand (3,000) based upon the most

recent federal decennial census which represents citizens living within a five

(5) mile radius of airport operations, appointed by the Governor. If more than

one (1) incorporated alliance exists, the Governor shall select the appointee

from the executive boards of any of the incorporated alliances. If no alliances

exist, the Governor shall appoint a citizen of the county who resides within a

five (5) mile radius of airport operations.

(11) The members of an air board composed of ten (10) members established by an

urban-county government shall be composed of the mayor of the urban -county

government or an officer of the urban -county government designated by the mayor.

The remaining nine (9) members shall be appointed by the mayor. Two (2) of the

members appointed by the mayor shall live within a three (3) mile radius of the

airport.

(12) Members of the board composed of six (6) members, or eight (8) members as set

out in subsection (3) of this section, shall serve for a term of four (4) years each and

until their successors are appointed and qualified. The initial appointments shall be

made so that two (2) members are appointed for two (2) years, two (2) members for

three (3) years, and two (2) members for four (4) years. The initial terms of the

members nominated b y a state university and jointly appointed by the cities and

county comprising the air board under subsection (3) of this section shall be one (1)

appointee serving a two (2) year term and one (1) appointee serving a four (4) year

term. Upon expiration of the staggered terms, successors shall be appointed for a

term of four (4) years.

(13) Members of the board composed of ten (10) members in a city other than a city of

the first class and county jointly shall serve for a term of four (4) years each and

until their successors are appointed and qualified. The initial appointments made by

the mayor and the county judge/executive shall be made so that one (1) member is

appointed for two (2) years, two (2) members are appointed for three (3) years, and

two (2) me mbers are appointed for four (4) years. If an existing six (6) member

board is being increased to a ten (10) member board, initial appointments of the

four (4) new members shall be made so that the mayor and the county

judge/executive, or the mayor if the board is established by an urban -county

government, each appoint one (1) member for two (2) years and one (1) member for

four (4) years. Upon expiration of the initial terms, successors shall be appointed

for a term of four (4) years. In the case of a boar d established by an urban -county

government, the term of the mayor for the urban -county government, or the officer

of the urban-county government designated by the mayor, shall be coextensive with

the term of the mayor.

(14) Members of an air board compose d of eleven (11) members and established or

maintained jointly by a city of the first class and the county containing a city of the

first class shall serve for a term of three (3) years each and until their successors are

appointed and qualified. The terms of the mayor and the county judge/executive

shall be coextensive with their terms of office. The mayor and the county

judge/executive shall each make their initial appointments to a board established

jointly by a city of the first class and the county containing a city of the first class so

that one (1) member is appointed for one (1) year, one (1) member is appointed for

two (2) years, and one (1) member is appointed for three (3) years. The Governor

shall make the initial appointments so that one (1) mem ber is appointed for two (2)

years and one (1) member is appointed for three (3) years. Upon the expiration of

the initial terms, successors shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years.

(15) Members of an air board composed of eleven (11) members in a county that has

established a consolidated local government in a county containing a former city of

the first class shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. The

terms of office on the air board of the mayor of the previously existing city of the

first class and the county judge/executive of this county shall expire upon the

establishment of a consolidated local government. Upon the establishment of a

consolidated local government, if the consolidated local government maintains the

previously existing air board, the incumbent members, except the mayor of the

previously existing city of the first class and the county judge/executive of that

county, shall continue to serve as members of the board for the time remaining of

their current te rms of appointment. The Governor shall appoint members pursuant

to subsection (10)(c) and (d) of this section. The mayor of the consolidated local

government shall serve on the board for a term which shall be coextensive with his

or her term of office. Inc umbent members shall be eligible for reappointment upon

the expiration of their terms. The terms of all other board members shall be for four

(4) years. Upon the establishment of a consolidated local government and

maintenance of a previously existing air board, any incumbent member whose term

had expired but who had continued to serve because the member's successor had

not been appointed, shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed.

Successors shall be appointed by the mayor or the Governor as p rovided by law

within sixty (60) days after the establishment of the consolidated local government.

As the terms of the previously serving members of an air board being maintained by

a consolidated local government expire, the mayor of the consolidated loc al

government and the Governor shall respectively make their new appointments.

(16) Members of the board shall serve without compensation but shall be allowed any

reasonable expenses incurred by them in the conduct of the affairs of the board. The

board shall, upon the appointment of its members, organize and elect officers. The

board, except for a board composed of eleven (11) members, shall choose a

chairman and vice chairman who shall serve for terms of one (1) year. Where the

board is composed of eleven (11) members and established jointly by a city of the

first class and the county containing a city of the first class, the mayor of the city of

the first class and the county judge/executive shall jointly appoint the chairman

from among the membership of the board. Where the board is composed of eleven

(11) members and is in a county containing a consolidated local government, the

mayor shall appoint the chairman from among the membership of the board. The

board shall also choose a secretary -treasurer who may or may not be a member of

the board. The board may fix a salary for the secretary -treasurer and the secretary -

treasurer shall execute an official bond to be set and approved by the board, and the

cost of the bond shall be paid by the board.

(17) The board may employ necessary counsel, agents, and employees to carry out its

work and functions and prescribe rules and regulations as it deems necessary.

(18) The secretary-treasurer shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the board and shall

also keep a se t of books showing the receipts and expenditures of the board. The

secretary-treasurer shall preserve on file duplicate vouchers for all expenditures and

shall present to the board, upon request, complete reports of all financial

transactions and the finan cial condition of the board. The books and vouchers shall

at all times be subject to examination by the legislative body or bodies by whom the

board was created. The secretary -treasurer shall transmit at least once annually a

detailed report of all acts an d doings of the board to the legislative body or bodies

by whom the board was created.

(19) In the event that a joint air board is created by cities, counties, or both, and has

authorized an eligible state university to become party to the air board under

subsection (3) of this section, and thereafter a city, county, or state university

desires to withdraw from participation, then the remaining participants may jointly

choose a successor member or members of the board. A local government or state

university wanting to withdraw from participation in the board shall not be entitled

to return of any moneys or property advanced to the board.

(20) A quorum for the transacting of the business of a six (6) member board shall consist

of four (4) members, an eight (8) member board shall consist of five (5) members, a

ten (10) member board shall consist of six (6) members, and an eleven (11) member

board shall consist of six (6) members. Meetings of the board may be called by the

chairman or by four (4) members. In cas e of tie voting by the board, the issue shall

be deemed to have failed passage.

(21) A board member may be replaced by the appointing authority upon a showing to

the authority of misconduct as a board member or upon conviction of a felony. A

board member s hall not hold any official office with the appointing authority,

except for the mayor of a city of the first class and the county judge/executive on a

board made up of eleven (11) members and established jointly by a city of the first

class and the county containing a city of the first class, or the mayor of an urban -

county government or a consolidated local government, or an officer of the urban -

county government designated by the mayor on a board established by an urban -

county government.

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