Generosity may have caused former airport president to resign
10:02 p.m. Sunday, February 17, 2008
Ever since Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority President Michael Humberd couldn’t answer our questions about a tax increase, then suddenly resigned, 49 News has been digging deep to find out why he quit.
We found out Humberd gave away property owned by the airport, property you helped pay for.
It centers on an old chapel at Forbes Field. In the past, the building was rented to start-up churches and churches needing a temporary place to worship. The building and everything in it is owned by the airport and you, the taxpayer.
The airport decided to shut the chapel down, because it’s in disrepair. It’s what was inside that may’ve got Michael Humberd in trouble.
The property left inside the chapel is piled in a corner of an old warehouse at the airport. But of the 18 church pews from inside the chapel, only four are left.
The airport doesn’t have a paper trail of where the other pews went, but we tracked them down.
The other 14 church pews, worth more than $100 a piece, now sit in a Catholic Church in North Topeka. The pews were given away to the church, not by the airport’s executive board but by Humberd himself.
Humberd is the same man who, when we asked what tax dollars were being used for, couldn’t answer. He is also the same man who when we demanded answers about your tax dollars, slammed the door in my face.
Airport Board Chairman Sam Carkhuff says it’s exactly what he wants to avoid when hiring Humberd’s replacement.
49's MTAA investigation
- Secret meetings held before airport director resigned (January 14, 2008)
- MTAA resignation raises questions (January 11, 2008)
- Airport uses your tax dollars as cash reserve (December 19, 2007)
- Airport tax jumps 30 percent, where your money's going (December 7, 2007)
“They’re going to be a student of the budget. They’re going to know the budget and be able to fend the budget and know what’s in there,” said Carkhuff. “That’s part of their responsibility, is to know that and be able to tell people when they ask.”
Had the airport sold or auctioned the church pews, it could’ve meant more than $1,400 for the airport.
Now, according to Carkhuff, the airport is tracking things more closely and developing a policy to prevent future friendly favors.
49 News has spent 3 months investigating the MTAA and how it uses your tax money.
Comments
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Feb. 17, 2008 at 10:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)oldmayor (anonymous)
Slammed the door in your face- what a drama queen. He just closed it.
Feb. 18, 2008 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)bobgick (anonymous)
Criminals have to pay restitution. Too bad we can't use the system to have the city pay restitution to the taxpayers who were ripped off by the excessive taxes they levied.
Feb. 19, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)coyoteffl (anonymous)
Lets hope the next MTAA President is not only a better overall person but also someone who wont go raising property taxes again.
:-)
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