By Katie Northcott, News Director
At its meeting on Tuesday, May 12, the Tullahoma Airport Authority (TAA) voted to send an email to clients requesting that they no longer have mail delivered to the airport.
The conversation regarding client mail began at the TAA meeting on April 28 when Gavin Dishon, the airport’s Interim Deputy Director, raised concerns about appearance and liability. The airport currently stores client mail behind its front desk and posted a sign saying that only airport employees are allowed behind the desk. The sign has been ignored in the past.
TAA Chairman Karla Smith shared Dishon’s concerns, citing an incident where a client’s package was misplaced for three weeks. Smith said the items inside the package cost around $1000 total. The package was eventually recovered.
“We don’t have the funds to cover or replace it,” Smith said. “Our staff signs for it. We’re liable for it. We can’t keep doing that.”
Smith said that the packages can create an eyesore since up to 30 packages are delivered to the airport per day.
“During Christmas, it’s insane,” Smith said. “I get it. Everyone’s sending [packages to the airport] so they don’t have to go home, but our staff can’t be responsible for your daughter’s Barbie Dreamhouse. … That’s not what we’re here for.”
At the meeting on May 12, the TAA approved an email drafted Sam Krimm with two changes. One change was adopting July 1, 2026, as the date the new policy would go into effect. The second change was to adjust the transition period to match the July 1 effective date.
The motion to send the email with the two changes added passed unanimously.
The airport will work with organizations like Vanderbilt LifeFlight that may need to deliver all packages directly to the airport and with individuals who may need exceptions for certain packages that are not easily transported.
At the same meeting, the TAA voted unanimously to close the airport for a half-day on Memorial Day. Smith asked for the closure to allow Dishon to take a day off. Smith said Dishon had not taken a day off (excluding weekends) since January due to staffing shortages.
A member of senior airport leadership must be present for the airport to open. Dishon is the only full-time employee with a senior leadership position, and the airport cannot afford to pay a part-time employee overtime to staff the airport on Memorial Day.
Self-serve fueling will be available on Memorial Day.
The post Tullahoma Airport Phasing Out Client Mail; Will Close for Half of Memorial Day appeared first on Thunder Radio.
