Nine commissioners and staffers went to the International Air Show in Paris in June.

The number in the delegation and purpose of the trip has raised questions.

The Clarion Ledger, through a public records request, obtained receipts from the trip.

The board says the result of the trip "will be an economic boon" for the area.

The Jackson airport delegation returned from the International Air Show in Paris in June, but questions remain over what was accomplished during the nine-day, expenses-paid trip billed as an economic development opportunity.

The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority maintains the trip — attended by all five commissioners and four staff members — included meetings with "potential business partners," but so far, no specifics have been offered.

Receipts obtained by the Clarion Ledger through a public records request reveal the nine JMAA officials spent nearly $50,000 on travel, lodging and food to attend the trade show. The $49,087.21 in expenses is nearly identical to the amount the Clarion Ledger projected the trip would cost.

Although JMAA isn't taxpayer-funded, it is still a public body. Its commissioners — Lawanda Harris, Lee Bernard Jr., James Henley Jr., Robert Martin and Lucius Wright — were nominated by Jackson's mayor and approved by the City Council.

While most of the expenses for airline tickets, lodging and food fell within what could be reasonably considered acceptable limits for a trip of this scale, there were some notable exceptions.

The interim CEO spent more than $4,000 on lodging for seven nights, at a cost of more than $585 a night. The amount was more than twice that of his colleagues.

Two staff members dined at an upscale restaurant in the Eiffel Tower, racking up about $180 in one meal.

All commissioners, at times, traveled in chauffeured luxury vehicles though taxis and public transportation were available.

One commissioner spent $600 in just one day to travel in a chauffeured luxury vehicle.

Original story:Jackson airport board, staffers taking expenses-paid trip

Now-departed CEO spends more than $4K on lodging

The June trip included the airport's then interim CEO, the chief operating officer, the director of business development and its manager of public relations and customer service — in addition to the five commissioners.

While all JMAA staff stayed at a Marriott hotel, they did not stay at the same one.

Lodging for the five commissioners averaged about $1,826 for their stay in Paris. Three of the other JMAA staff members spent about $500 more on lodging than the commissioners, likely because the Marriott Rive Gauche & Conference Center had higher rates.

However, there was one notable exception.

Records indicate Perry Miller, then-interim president and CEO of the airport, logged more than $4,000 on lodging for seven nights, at a cost of more than $585 a night. Miller's stay at the Marriott was more than twice that of his colleagues, who also stayed at four-star Marriott hotels in Paris.

Miller's lodging also was some $1,200 more than that of Yul McNair, JMAA's director of business, who stayed at the same hotel as Miller for the same number of days.

The cost of a standard room at the four-star hotel is about $170 a night, according to the hotel's website. A deluxe room with a view of the city and breakfast, according to the site, comes to 254 euros, or about $278, which is about the amount three of the staff members logged.

The closest Miller's expense matches up with is staying in the hotel's premium Champagne Suite, a room that comes with its own executive lounge, for a cost of about $600 a night. But it's impossible to know if this was the case since the financial records don't break down lodging costs by room. Miller could not be reached for comment.

Less than a month after returning from the Paris trip, Miller left Mississippi to lead an airport near Richmond, Virginia. He had been JMAA's interim CEO and president since March, replacing Carl Newman, who resigned after five years with the airport..

Miller had been contemplating the move to Richmond before he went on the Paris trip. His Delta airline ticket to Paris was purchased on May 3, according to records.

Dinner at the Eiffel Tower

Current Interim CEO Darion Warren and Yolanda Moore, the airport's manager of public relations and customer service, also went on the Paris trip.

On one day of the trip, the two spent $91.85 each for a dinner at the 58 Tour Eiffel Umanis, an upscale restaurant in the Eiffel Tower.

Warren first worked as director of capital programming before his appointment as chief operating officer. He was named the airport's interim president and CEO after Miller announced his departure.

Chauffeured luxury travel

Records show commissioners spent about the same on lodging and meals, about $667 a day. But travel was an exception.

Although trip attendees were given several notes on public transportation routes from the hotels they were staying at, records show all five commissioners at some point used chauffeured services from a company called Sunny's Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation. On its website, the company boasts the use of luxury sedans, SUVs and limousines.

All five commissioners used the service twice while in Paris, instead of a taxi or public transportation, mainly between the airport and their hotels.

But on June 14, for example, Henley used Sunny's twice in one day, logging a total $600.95 for the day.

All told, commissioners racked up just over $1,500 on travel from the company.

Cold calls, few details: What did the trip achieve?

Commissioners and staff have been tight-lipped about what they accomplished on the trip as a possible state takeover of the airport looms and their activities are being closely monitored.

A Wednesday afternoon press release from JMAA said the decision to send commissioners and senior staff was consistent with the airport's strategic plan, which was "heavily-weighted on building business partnerships."

"The result will be an economic boon for the Jackson Metropolitan area," the release sta.

'Making cold calls' in Paris:Airport delegation returns from expenses-paid trip

Previously, Henley was the only one to comment after returning from the air show. He provided a list of the company representatives he spoke to.

He said commissioners attended some prearranged meetings but spent a majority of the trip "making cold calls." Henley also defended the size of the JMAA delegation to Paris, saying it was necessary because of the scope of the air show.

Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba on Wednesday noted his concern about the number of officials on the trip. However, he said he understood that JMAA had a development opportunity lined up before the trip.

Still, among the records the airport turned over, there are five pages marked "Notes for Le Bourget PARIS," presumably for commissioners to record contacts and accomplishments while in Paris.

They are blank.

Contact Justin Vicory at 769-572-1418 or jvicory@gannett.com. Follow @justinvicory on Twitter.

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