Tulsa's airport director placed on administrative leave

Tulsa's mayor suspends the director of the airport - in the face of growing criticism over management at Tulsa International. <br/><br/>A federal investigation of airport spending is underway - including

Thursday, June 17th 2004, 5:46 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa's mayor suspends the director of the airport - in the face of growing criticism over management at Tulsa International.

A federal investigation of airport spending is underway - including a city subsidy of the now bankrupt Great Plains Airlines.

News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan says the mayor suspended longtime airports director Brent Kitchen Wednesday night.

Kitchen has been at the airport 18 years - but now he's out of a job because of questions and complaints about how he ran the place. As airport Director Brent Kitchen was a lightning rod for both praise and criticism. Now he's out of a job - technically suspended - but the mayor is already talking about someone new.

Mayor LaFortune: "We consider this very temporary -- at the airport." The mayor spent the morning with the Airport Authority and Airport trustees.

Here support for Kitchen runs strong but they too speak of Kitchen in the past tense. The now bankrupt Great Plains Airlines is just one element of a federal investigation that has already concluded the city improperly and possibly illegally subsidized the airline. But

Kitchen has been under fire for years from a few people with airport related business - none more vocal than parking lot operator Mike Fine - he's eager for someone new.

The mayor says Kitchen was suspended because of problems that aren't limited to what the feds are investigating. He says stronger action - including firing him - can't happen without more facts and the due process afforded civil service employees.

Mayor says he's not sure who knew what and when about Great Plains or the other things under investigation. He says he'll wait for more details from the investigation before he takes more action with Kitchen.

Tulsa Mayor Bill LaFortune has named city administrative officer Mike Kier as acting airport director.