Airport Resolution on Commission Agenda

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote Tuesday, May 3, on a resolution that would remove commercial service from consideration at Lawrenceville’s Briscoe Field.

The in order to hold a public hearing for the purpose of gathering citizen input on the matter. in which opponents to commercial service far outnumbered those in support.

The county has not yet issued a request for proposals (RFP) for any airport related projects, but did issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) last year for firms interested in submitting proposals to privatize the airport. American Airports Corporation, Gwinnett Airport, LLC and Propeller Investments submitted RFQs.

Brett Smith, managing director of Propeller Investments, supports bringing commercial service to Briscoe Field and . On Sunday, May 1, Smith sent an email to an unknown number of Gwinnett County residents encouraging them to ask the Board of Commissioners to issue the Request For Proposals.

In his email, Smith said redeveloping Briscoe could result in new jobs, convenience, lower travel expenses, significant time savings and increased county revenue.

“If any of the above is appealing, then it’s critical that you ask the Board of Commissioners to issue the Request For Proposals (RFP) giving you and the entire county a chance to see what’s on the table,” Smith wrote. “The only way to see if this initiative is a fit for Gwinnett is to see what is being offered.” 

Fly Gwinnett Forward, headed by Paula Hastings, Mike Royal and Jimmy Norton, to the Lawrenceville airport.

Leading the opposition are members of Citizens for a Better Gwinnett (C4BG). The group has requested both passenger jet service and freight operations be removed from consideration.

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners meets in work session at 10 a.m. and will hold its business meeting at 2 p.m. The commission meets in the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center auditorium at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville.