FREDERICKTOWN – Alan D. Kintner, a recent appointee to the Knox County Airport Authority Board, aims to make the Knox County Airport an integral part of Mount Vernon by applying his previous experience in local government and engineering.
Although his background is unrelated to aviation, Kintner spent five years as Mayor of Fredericktown and another seven years as a Fredericktown councilmember, making him an ideal fit for the Airport Authority Board.
"They have needs in growing," Kinter explained. "I am helping Knox County Airport with building, contracts and construction. Due to my government background and experience in finding critical grants and funding, I am able to help."
Kintner also traces his background in engineering, which started at a young age.
"I have been doing highway construction my whole life," he said. "I started with my Dad and began learning how to build highways."
Kintner, a family man with a wife and three sons, planted stakes in Mount Vernon in 1985 after falling in love with the small-town feel.
"I like the rural nature and industry in Mount Vernon," Kintner told the Mount Vernon News. "Mount Vernon’s industrial center started in 1955. That shows you there is forward thinking within the community."
The area's blended geography also provided a point of interest.
"Knox County sets a vibe between the rolling plains to the west and the Appalachian Mountains to the east," he said. "It is a zoomed-in picture of what the state looks like as a whole."
For Kintner, the ultimate goal is to make Knox County a more essential piece of the community. The Airport Authority's board boasts a range of talents across multiple disciplines, allowing Kintner to interweave his talents with other board members in order to devise effective solutions and ideas.
"You gotta produce ideas, give a little bit of yourself to something bigger," Kintner said.
The Knox County Regional Airport is located south of Mount Vernon and provides services for private and company aircraft. The airport is strategically located to meet the needs of Central Ohio and has plans to expand its operations with additional runways and hangars for a range of aircraft. The airport is currently managed by Josh Wynn.
