Springfield Ohio Bought a Tesla

Bryan Heck and His Fraternity Brothers at Work Again

The Tesla

The FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds essential infrastructure projects at public-use airports to enhance safety, security, capacity, and environmental sustainability, providing grants for things like runway/taxiway rehab, lighting, land acquisition, and planning, funded by the Airport & Airway Trust Fund, ensuring the national aviation system remains efficient and modern.

So Springfield applied for a Tesla in the noise something.....

It is primarily used to tote grown men back and forth from Wright Patterson AF Base, but there were several comparably priced electric SUVs that could've fit more than two dudes in it.

Read here for more about the NAAMCE and all the money to come. Lots of money to come. That never comes.

The 23-Year-Old Airport Manager

Hired for His Social Media Skills

The article below quotes Airport Advisory Board chairman, Mark Ashworth, saying about hiring a 23-year-old Manager in 2019, "When choosing from “quite a few” candidates for the position, Airport Advisory Board chairman Mark Ashworth said the 23 year old’s knowledge of social media for use in promotion and economic development of the airport was a benefit."

Springfield always refers to a lengthy search or plethora of candidates. But this was a Dad deal if I've ever seen one. And hired for his social media skills.

Springfield News-Sun article: Meet Springfield's New Airport Manager
PDF of Article

Seth Timmerman was hired in January 2019. Born in1996, he was 23 years old. He had a degree and experience working at another airport for a year, in his defense, I suppose?

Salary Increase

2019 - $44,268
2020 - no data for some reason
2021 - $72,986 (so hired back at $30K more - explains the year gone)
2022 - $80,668
2023 - $89,583
2024 - $99,338
From 2019-2024 (less one year), in the same job, his salary increased $55,070 or 124.4%.

How is She Allowed Anywhere Near OUR Money?

Rhetorical question, of course. Everyone paying attention knows why.

Two examples below of Travel and Expense Reports handled by the Finance Department for one OCMA Conference in Columbus. (These folks spend a LOT of time at conferences and paying registration and membership fees. Since a lot of our corruption concerns are not unique, I imagine a Conference for City Managers teaches from a national playbook.)

But that's not my point. What's with all the handwriting? And crossing out of signature blocks? And signing before the trip? And cash advances?