Gwinnett County commissioners are scheduled to vote on a plan to privatize Briscoe Field on Tuesday, June 5.GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. -
Gwinnett County commissioners unanimously voted against a plan to privatize Briscoe Field on Tuesday.
County commissioners not only vote to reject the measure that would have allowed commercial flights at Briscoe Field, but they also chose to redraw the entire process with the FAA.
Propeller Airport, Inc., a company that wants to privatize Briscoe Field, sought to delay the commissioners' vote on the measure due to the resignation of a Gwinnett County commissioner. The company spent $2 million in an effort to get the measure approved.
Gwinnett County Commissioner Shirley Lasseter resigned last week after pleading guilty to federal bribery charges. She was the third commissioner to resign amid alleged criminal activity in the past two years.
Residents packed the afternoon meeting, many of whom said they expected the rejection.
"I expected that they would come around, based on what happened last week with Commissioner Lasseter. I expected a 4-0 vote," said resident Ken Clark.
Brett Smith of Propeller Airport said county commissioners tabled their vote the last time a commissioner resigned. Smith says the public should be allowed to vote on the issue.
Smith said he would recommend filing a lawsuit against Gwinnett County for damages. The company spent $2 million in an effort to get the measure approved.
