While some may be pleased to see the airport privatization issue on the June 5 Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners agenda, is not.
Smith plans to hold a press conference Monday afternoon "to address Tuesday’s Gwinnett County Commission agenda issue on his company’s proposal to expand the Briscoe Field in order to accommodate commercial passenger flights."
In a released statement, Smith said, “Since the District 1 Commission seat is now vacant, no important issues should be voted on by the Commission until a new District 1 Commission representative is seated. It would be incredibly unfair to have a vote on a major issue affecting the whole county if that district is not represented."
District 1 commissioner Shirley Lasseter resigned last week . During the course of the investigation leading to the charges, Lasseter is accused of seeking an undercover agent's help in using her official position to gain personally from the proposed privatization of the Gwinnett County Airport.
A , but a date has not yet been set.
The remaining commissioners are . The June 5 commission work session agenda lists an “approval to reject RP039-11, A Public-Private Partnership for the Lease, Operation and Improvement of Gwinnett County Airport Briscoe Field” under new business.
In documents posted on the county website, Gwinnett County Director of Transportation Martin Conroy outlined the reasons for recommending rejection of the Propeller Airports proposal including the lack of "detail for the operation, development, and planning for Briscoe Field." Other areas of concern included insufficient information in terms of the transition plan, the community relations plan, the operations and maintenance plan and in the short- and long-term airport development.
Last week, claiming the "most appropriate way to resolve the issue surrounding Briscoe Field is for the County to release the proposal it received and for a referendum to be placed on the November Ballot by the Board of Commissioners."
Should commissioners vote on the proposal while the District 1 seat remains vacant, delay the vote until the special election is held or put the measure before the voters? Let us know in the comments.
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Now that the smoke has cleared and everyone can see that this albatross is not good for Gwinnett and the residents who live around the airport, he feels that the board should delay? How about we THE PEOPLE have had to wait long enough on this issue? How about....WE ALL HAVE SAID...that it is apparent that SOMEONE was trying to make a shady buck off of this deal. Now comes Lassetter!! How many other backroom deals are going on in this fiasco? We can all see that some one or a group of people in this nonsense are waiting for a pay off. Surely it was not only Lassetter. The best thing Brett and all of the other money grubbers should want at this point is to close this issue down so that they heat gets off of their backs. One could surmise that if 10 years is hanging over Lassetters head....she will talk if she knows more for reduced sentencing. Brett....get lost for gods sake!! When the people asked for the vote....we were told no way!! If you somehow get this on the ballot...then we (the people and the FEDS) will surely know that someone is on the take. Why should YOU and your COMPANY get this on the ballot when the people who pay taxes could not? Please take your company, Lassetter, Kennerly and Bannister and whoever else is scamming on one of your planes and hightail it out of Gwinnett as soon as possible. Thanks!
1. County purchasing staff and IMG recommed rejecting this proposal due to negligence in several required areas. 2. If Brett Smith, Mike Royal, and Fly Gwinnett Forward want what is best for the citizens of this county, they will stop whining and realize this is over. 3. Chairwoman Nash represents ALL Gwinnett county citizens...Duluth WILL ABSOLUTELY have representation in this process. Don't let the robo calls make you think otherwise. 4. Brett Smith is vain enough to think that county business should be placed on hold for Propeller????? Oh my...
SyFy has a spot open right after the infomercial on the “Brazilian Butt Lift” for your press conference. Besides, it’s the network most familiar and experienced presenting “projects” like yours.
The 51 percent scoring and lack of any financial details resulting in unforecastable cost to Gwinnett County Government (Read Citizens) for infrastructure improvement needed in the project’s support. As to the worn out claims that no taxpayer funds are needed: Why split half of what revenue we get now without even adjusting the split with regard to inflation for 50 YEARS. Also requiring a SPLOST to be active for the same 50 years? The echo of “we are looking for the facts” has been silenced - they have been delivered, as if from Egypt. Now it’s time to get OUT of the river Denial. Commisioners PLEASE VOTE NO or it was NEVER about the facts from the get go. BUT HE has a plan you say! Really! It’s a great plan! PSST – Brett the time to share that DREAM was in the RFP where you left it out, you know how it was going to be financed and all… Not getting your homework done and blaming that on Lassetter? Hey you'd make a GREAT business partner indeed. No need to let a crisis go to waste when surely you could find someone you could support for the "short term" in District 1 in the all resumes you collected last year. Good bye Bernie Madoff the 2nd - Hartsfield is calling and there's a plane ready when you are. Maybe you could visit Mayor Reed on the way out.