LAWRENCEVILLE, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
After two years of studies and debates by officials and citizens in Gwinnett County, a proposal to commercialize Briscoe Air Field could be voted on Tuesday afternoon by Gwinnett County commissioners.
Those in support of privatization argue that Gwinnett County needs to have commercial flights departing from Lawrenceville in order to keep growing economically. Those who oppose the plans say the constant air traffic noise would ruin the suburban quality of life in the area, and that to build and maintain a commercial airline terminal would not be fiscally realistic.
"We just have tons of evidence showing that this is not a feasible airport to be a commercial airport," said Gaye McNeill, with the group Citizens for a Better Gwinnett. She also served on an 11-person committee that studied the feasibility of the airport plan.
"We've interviewed airport managers, we've looked at research, all kinds of studies conducted by experts," said McNeill, who said the group had seven months of regular research to come up with their decision that the privatization of the airport would not be a good move for the county.
The group Fly Gwinnett Forward represents the other side of the argument.
"To say that this is going to interrupt the quality of life of 40 schools surrounding this area is ludicrous at best," said Jimmy Norton of Fly Gwinnett Forward. "We've shown again and again that the noise footprint of any proposed, scheduled service equipment is actually quieter than what's here now."
Complicating matters is the fact that former County Commissioner Shirley Lasseter recently pleaded guilty to a federal charge that she accepted bribes. Lasseter also resigned from her position as commissioner of District One, leaving only four commissioners to vote on the Briscoe Air Field plan.
Propeller Inc., the company in line to build and operate the terminal, said the vote by commissioners needs to be held back until a commissioner can be placed in the vacant District One chair.
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