Fargo Mayor Appoints Teacher to Municipal Airport Authority

News | April 25th, 2017

Municipal airport authority Steve Blazek speaks with newly-appointed teacher Tammy Linn after City Commisioners meeting - photo by C.S. Hagen

FARGO - Sixth-grade writing teacher Tammy Linn was appointed by the city to the Municipal Airport Authority Monday, but not without objections. Two city commissioners, John Strand and Dave Piepkorn, were present, and the proposal was passed by the city commission unanimously.

Linn, a former city councilman in Prescott, Arizona, has been with the Fargo Public Schools system since 2013, according to her LinkedIn page. She was also a deputy associate superintendent for the Arizona Department of Education and ran for city commission in Fargo last year.

The appointment was not the first issue Fargo leaders and the Municipal Airport Authority disagreed over recently. Earlier in March, Mayor Tim Mahoney, city representatives, and the airport board met for the second time to discuss the feasibility of building a parking ramp at Hector International Airport.

Steve Blazek, Municipal Airport Authority board chairman, objected to the appointment.

“The objection was the process that was used,” Blazek said. “We have no idea of Mrs. Linn’s strengths as for serving on the Airport Authority. And actually would like for you to consider tabling this for a couple of weeks so that people can get into the interview process with Mrs. Linn, and find out her skill sets and see how she adds value to the Airport Authority.”

The Municipal Airport Authority was established in 1969 by the City of Fargo, and it consists of a five-member volunteer board to serve five year terms and appointed by the city’s mayor. The Municipal Airport Authority oversees airport development and helps meet aviation needs for surrounding community.

“We’re not a department of the City of Fargo; we’re a stand-alone entity,” Blazek said. “And yes, the appointments are done by the mayor and confirmed by the commission, but to not have any input by our executive director, the chairman… let the process be looked at.”

Blazek’s proposal to table the decision was rejected. At one point while Blazek was talking, Mayor Tim Mahoney interrupted saying that the Airport Authority was contacted up to three weeks ago.

“Let me finish sir,” Mahoney said. “A new appointee will bring a different perspective to the authority at this juncture of the airport’s trajectory. It’s really the mayor’s prerogative to appoint to the board… and I think it’s good to have a new, fresh face on the board to help get things done.”

Qualifications for appointment to the Municipal Airport Authority include citizenship, Mahoney said, and Linn has “extensive public service” experience.

“I commend the mayor for keeping people who have the desire to be involved, involved,” Strand said. “I hope that our new appointee to the airport authority isn’t walking into a bed of hot coals. “And I hope that this is a positive working relationship going forward.”

“She’s smart, and she’s tough, so she can handle it,” Piepkorn said. “I think Tammy will be an excellent addition to the airport authority. I was very pleased the mayor was the one who suggested it.”

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