A new manager at the Smithville Municipal Airport was named last week.

Smithville Aldermen voted at the April meeting of the board to hire Joe Johnson in the new part-time position of manager of the facility. Johnson was recommended by the airport board to replace former airport manager Wes Nokes, who resigned in July.

Airport board member Roth Terrell told the aldermen that the members felt that Johnson was very qualified for the job.

"We would like to present to the city council Joe Johnson as a part time airport manager,” Terrell said. “We feel that Joe has the experience that we've been looking for. He has the knowledge on many levels of airport operation. He has served as airport manager at that airport once before. He has had many years of experience in aviation. He also has knowledge in construction and electronics. There are many things he has qualifications for so we feel like he would be best suited to fill that position.”

The airport board met in November to discuss whether to recommend the hiring of another full-time manager to hire a part-time manager, or to lease the airport to a fixed-based operator.

The position of part-time manager was advertised for in February, and six candidates were originally considered for the post. The airport board reviewed the applications and resumes in March and whittled the pool down to two candidates before recommending Johnson for the job.