Propeller CEO Wants Airport Vote Delayed
Brett Smith calls for the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners to postpone any important votes until a new District 1 representative is seated.
While some may be pleased to see the airport privatization issue on the June 5 Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners agenda, Propeller Airports CEO Brett Smith 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 after pleading guilty to charges she accepted bribes in return for her support for a proposed real estate development. 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 special election will be held to fill Lasster's vacant seat, but a date has not yet been set.
The remaining commissioners are expected to vote on the privatization issue Tuesday. 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, pro-privatization group Fly Gwinnett Forward called for the issue to be placed before the voters 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.
You might also be interested in reading:
- Propeller CEO Says Commercialization Could Be Beneficial
- Citizens for a Better Gwinnett Calls for Airport Vote
- Fly Gwinnett Forward Urges Officials to Move Forward With Privatization of Briscoe Field
- Beaudreau Calls Airport Proposal Delay ‘Borderline Insubordination’
- Report: Clear Goal Needed for Briscoe
Subscribe to the Dacula Patch newsletter for a chance to win a $25 Visa gift card. Contest is open to new and existing subscribers. Click here for details.
GregRodgers
9:08 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
This guy is a piece of work...(I would insert a different 4 letter word..but I will be nice)
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!
Dave M
9:18 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
Why delay??? It received a score of 51 out of 100! It needs to be rejected because it is a poor plan. Perhaps in the future they can get their act together, do better community relations, show clearly how the expansion will benefit the County and address all the questions. How can any Commissioner vote for this thing given the report and score???? How can they ask the Commission to move forward?????
Dave M
9:39 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
I think what bothers me most about this deal is that rather than address any concerns, offer to answer questions, provide a revised plan, they first try and float the "referendum" thing.... problem with that is that pesky score and the fact that a case could easily be made that the voters may be on the hook for this deal; now they want a delay because the vote will go against them; I would think a credible management group would address the concerns, not resort to tactics to delay the process. At the end of the delay it is still the same score, still same questions.
Bev Lougher
9:57 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
Brett Smith needs to get on a 737 at Hartsfield and Fly Forward back to New York City and leave us the heck alone.
Gary Fox
9:59 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
:-) :-) :-)
dacula_dude
1:23 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
As a Dacula resident, I think it would be incredibly unfair to have the rest of the county, who has no skin in the game, to vote on commercialization. Not to mention, the average voter has no clue on the details of the issue and the complete impact.
Andrew McNeil
2:28 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
Remember this:
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...
Alison
6:18 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
I agree Andrew who does he think he is trying to control the government and citizens of a county he doesn't live in. Then we have FGF who doesn't like true information (I keep posting info on their sites and someone is actually taking the time to delete it). Too bad they won't put their money into making Briscoe a world class general aviation airport. Now that might actually work.
R++ - One of the famous "Dacula Crew"
3:17 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
Brett
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.
DavidE
4:27 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
I don't trust the BoC, then again the voters put the BoC in office. You can't fix stupid.
Andrew McNeil
5:28 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
Amen, DavidE...as voters, I hope we have all learned our lessons. Due diligence into the background/ethics/morals/integrity of each candidate is required before casting a vote...hope everyone will do their part before the July 31st ballot!
R++ - One of the famous "Dacula Crew"
5:51 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
Well Brett wants the vote delayed, he also wanted our money too, hopefully he will leave with neither.
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.
Alison
6:29 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
Is it just me or does Brett Smith looks like he is falling apart and in panic mode?
GregRodgers
7:21 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
He has been falling apart and in panic mode since the Citizens Panel voted against him. The very next day after that vote he has been in damage control.....