| For Immediate Release | For more information contact: |
| March 1, 2001 | Jessie Roos (651-296-9719) |
(ST. PAUL) -- State Representative Tim Wilkin (R-Eagan) is the sponsor of legislation to improve the Metropolitan Airports Commitssion (MAC). The legislation will require that MAC members be approved by the House and Senate.
"I believe House File 1236 will make the Metropolitan Airports Commission more responsive to constituent concerns," said Wilkin. "Currently, members are politically appointed by the governor, making many of them less responsive to constituent concerns. By putting the step of legislative approval into the process, MAC members will have to listen more closely and respond more quickly to the concerns of local residents."
The primary responsibility of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) is to operate the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and six reliever airports. The MAC consists of 14 commissioners and a chairman. The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul are commissioners by virtue of their offices, but have designated representatives to serve for them. Eight other commissioners are appointed by the Governor to represent specific metropolitan districts. The Governor also appoints four commissioners from Greater Minnesota: two from cities with commercial air service and two from cities with general aviation airports. The Governor appoints the chairman, who may reside anywhere in Minnesota.
The legislation supported by Wilkin and other suburban lawmakers has been referred to the House of Representatives Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Committee.
State Representative Tim Wilkin, an insurance underwriter, lives in Eagan with his wife and three children. He is in his second term representing District 38A, which includes the cities of Burnsville, Eagan, Lilydale, Mendota, and Mendota Heights. He serves on the House Ways & Means Committee, the Tax Committee and Sales & Income Tax Division, as well as the Health & Human Services Policy & Finance Committees. Constituents may contact him at 413 State Office Building, 100 Constitution Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55155. His legislative phone number is (651) 296-3533 and his e-mail address is rep.tim.wilkin@house.leg.state.mn.us.
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