MOULTRIE, Ga. (WALB) — The Colquitt County Board of Commissioners discussed seeking an independent audit of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Airport Authority during a May 26 budget meeting. This discussion follows WALB’s previous report on airport T-SPLOST dollars paid to a company tied to Airport Authority Chairman, Mike Boyd.

>>> WATCH: WALB’s previous report on the Airport Authority’s spending <<<

WALB previously reported that the Airport Authority paid tens of thousands of dollars in T-SPLOST funds to WoCo Enterprises LLC for spraying and mowing services, and that Airport Authority meeting minutes showed the board later voted to void that agreement after questions were raised about Boyd’s connection to the company.

Commissioners raise public trust, T-SPLOST renewal concerns

Official meeting minutes reflect that Chairman Denver Braswell told the board during the May 26 meeting that he wanted to address “the elephant in the room,” referencing WALB’s report on the Airport Authority.

Braswell reportedly said a T-SPLOST referendum is up for renewal next year, and he said he was concerned about how the controversy could impact public support. Several commissioners said they were hearing questions from the public that they could not answer, according to the meeting minutes.

Boyd said he had consulted with legal representation and was asked not to discuss the matter in public, though he acknowledged that “there are two sides to every story.”

Commissioner Paul Nagy said the Airport Authority “should give a clear and concise message to the media.”

Boyd responded that he “thought they did but maybe the whole story wasn’t reported.”

Editor’s note: In the May 2026 article, WALB published both official statements provided by the Airport Authority’s legal counsel, one in totality and one as a summary. Boyd and the Authority’s legal counsel provided WALB with requested documents and answers to specific written questions, but did not respond to requests for an in-person interview.

An internal review or independent audit

After Braswell asked “how the board was going to get to the bottom of the matter,” Commissioner Johnny Hardin suggested “an independent group look into the matter since taxpayer money was involved,” meeting minutes show.

Boyd told the board earlier in the meeting that the Airport Authority had reviewed and handled the situation a year ago, and that “legal counsel was involved throughout the whole process to make sure it was handled correctly.”

According to the minutes, Chairman Braswell then stated that “not many companies could investigate themselves and give the all clear,” later stating “it simply wasn’t good enough for him” given that “maintaining taxpayer trust was essential, and if something appears inappropriate, it must be addressed and investigated.”

Commissioner Johnny Hardin then suggested an independent group look into the issue because taxpayer money was involved, according to the minutes.

As the discussion continued, County Administrator Chas Cannon outlined what he saw as options for the board, according to the minutes.

Cannon suggested separating commissioners from serving on authorities as a first step, and said that when money is given to an authority, “an audit should be requested.”

Cannon also stated that “law enforcement could investigate the matter, but noted that the Sheriff was the law enforcement official for the county.”

Boyd said “he would be glad for the Sheriff to come to him.”

Braswell pushed back, saying “the investigating agency needed to be 100% independent from the Board of Commissioners,” minutes show.

Full Colquitt County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes, May 26:

What happens next

According to the meeting minutes, Hardin said it sounded like the board’s next step would be for County Attorney Lester Castellow to speak with Boyd’s attorney to determine whether further steps were needed. Braswell said the board would seek answers from Castellow.

Boyd’s final statements on the record were that “half the truth was as bad as a lie, stating that no matter what he did, someone would have something negative to say” and “an independent third party should investigate the matter and that he could look anyone in the eye.”

June 5, 2026, County Administrator Cannon told WALB that he is researching what a forensic audit of the Airport Authority could look like and plans to take his findings to the county commission as soon as next week. He also said that discussions about separating commissioners from the Airport Authority to address any possible “conflicts of interest” surrounding taxpayer funds are ongoing.

WALB spoke with legal expert, Tommy Coleman, about what that process would look like. It would start with an amendment to the Authority’s ‘Enabling Act.’ That Enabling Act is legislation that outlines how the Authority operates. Out of respect for the attorneys involved, Coleman said he would not comment on specifics in this case, just general legal processes for an amendment.

“If you wanted to amend one that’s created by the General Assembly, you have to run back through that process of drafting what you want to do, passing a resolution, and it then it goes to your local delegation- the members of the House and Senate that represent that community- and if they agree, of course, they turn it into bill form.”

You can watch the full interview with Coleman and read the Authority’s current ‘Enabling Act’ below:

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