Al Denson has never been one to shy away from a perk.

Nope.

The head of the Birmingham Airport Authority has taken more publicly funded trips -- to exotic places like Hawaii and the Caymans and Morocco -- than Timothy Leary. Denson's salary ($400,000) has dwarfed that of general managers at the world's largest airports.

And now the Airport Authority itself wonders if his quest-for-all-he-can-get crossed the line.

A lawyer for the Airport Authority Board recently learned that Denson, during the airport renovation a few years ago, had a personal gym and shower built off his office.

And only he can use it.

Denson apparently did not consult the board at the time, and it appears board members did not know of its existence.

When discovered it quickly became an issue. If a public official uses public funds to build a room for his own recreation and enjoyment, is it a perk or a problem?

The board had no choice but to report it to the ethics commission.

Kem Marks Bryant, the board's lawyer who apparently reported the question, would not comment, other than to say the matter is "not being handled internally," and lawyer Ted Hosp has been hired to "investigate on our behalf."

Hosp, of Maynard Cooper & Gale, said the existence of the room is not in dispute.

Denson apparently had the gym added during this renovation at the airport. This is not the room. (Joe Songer)

His investigation will seek to determine whether there's anything wrong with it.

Sigh.

If Denson built a gym.

For his own use.

On public property.

With public money.

Without board knowledge.

Then there's something wrong with it.

Denson did not return calls or messages. Toni Herrera-Bast, the airport authority spokeswoman, responded to requests for an interview like this:

"The allegations made against Mr. Denson are completely false. An internal inquiry is currently being conducted by the appropriate people. Mr. Denson is cooperating fully with the internal inquiry, and he is confident the results will be favorable to him."

It is unclear what's in the room, what it cost or how elaborate the set-up might be. It is said to contain various exercise machines and a shower - all the things one would expect to find in a gym.

Of course I asked to see the room. It's on public property, after all. Herrera-Bast referred me to Hosp "for access."

Hosp said he could not schedule it until Tuesday. Next Tuesday.

Not to be distrustful, but I had visions of airport workers loading gym equipment on baggage carts, and I told him so. I told him what that would look like to a suspicious public, and asked why it takes a lawyer to open a door in a public building in the first place.

He was out of town, he said. I could see it Tuesday.

Birmingham Airport Authority CEO Al Denson (Joe Songer)

But all I could hear is Wimpy from Popeye.

I'll gladly show you Tuesday what I can't show you today.

I asked the mayor's brother - Airport Authority Board Chairman Michael Bell - what the gym was like. Is it the Taj MaGym? Or a closet with a barbell?

"I don't want to get into that," he said.

But he's in it. The board's in it, the ethics commission is in it, and the people of Alabama are in it up to their eyeballs.

Because the question of whether this amounts to lawbreaking is just one of the issues. The more basic issue is simple. Especially now, in the age of corruption and distrust:

Can any public body tolerate a "leader" who acts like he owns the place? The public place? Is it ever OK to buy perks with public money?

No.

The answer - now and forever - is no.