I want my space!

Not really. There is a *conflict of interest* between the AA and the BOC when there are members of both entities working together behind closed doors. Where is the accountability in Paulding County leadership? It maybe "legal", but that doesn't make it *right*. If it is legal to operate with undercover code names on public projects that the public is going to be on the hook for, then the laws need to be looked at and changed. I am really tired of Swafford in particular. He has all these great ideas of how to bring jobs to Paulding, but none of them have panned out yet. Brilliant.

pubby, Refreshing to see your perspective to this issue. I am "cooling my jets" to see how this will play out. I would like to see the airport be a success and potential job creator, I really do. Aerospace companies coming into this area could potentially benefit my small business. The reality is that Delta and the City of Atlanta have both vowed to fight the commercial plan proposed. Are the Paulding County citizens now going to be on the hook for fighting that, or Propeller? My biggest concern is how all of this has played out. Now we hear about "code names", etc. It is a full time job

So, just to add on to the last reference post I just added. I was at that meeting this morning and we were informed that if any member of the public wanted to ask a question or make a comment, they have to go through Blake Swafford to get onto the agenda. See bolded quotes from Swafford above. Do you really think BS would put anyone on the "agenda" who wasn't pro Commercial? Put 2 and 2 together, I think not. People were being respectful the entire meeting, (raising hands, etc.) until it became clear the the AA was not going to take any "questions" from the citizens in attendance, bec

This is from wsbtvradio.com: http://www.wsbradio.com/news/news/local/paulding-co-protestors-hope-stop-airport-commercia/nbNy9/ Paulding Co. protestors hope to stop airport commercialization By Pete Combs Paulding County, GA — Well after most construction workers have gone home for the day, the giant earthmovers at Silver Comet Field in Paulding County continue to rumble from the huge mounds of stockpiled dirt to the departure end of Runway 31, adding on to the length of the concrete strip. This work is necessary for the airline traffic that is expected to begin arriv

Well, we'll see…I don't think it is a "done deal" to Delta and the City of Atlanta (which, by the way, OWNS the land the airport is on!). This BOC "decision"/deal/back door antics/whatever ... that's supposed to be so good for the Airport and the surrounding community was never even discussed with the land owner? I'm not sure how that's supposed to work. Both Delta and City of Atlanta said they would fight this tooth and nail … what does that mean, more of our County tax dollars being wasted on a another legal battle? I'm not picking Austin to win that one.

That is exactly the conflict of interest that Commissioner Austin is in right now. He is the Chairman of the County BOC. He is also on the Airport authority board. That needs to fixed right away. The BOC, who Austin is the Chairman of, *never* voted on this this issue. It was never brought up. It was a back door deal between Austin, Swafford & Propeller. That was in the works for almost a year now, we find out… Okay, so you send out *one* email over a year's time and that's your excuse that the Pownall wasn't "in the loop". C'mon. I'd like to see that email and where

Well, it sure didn't hurt to help kill the Toll Road project that Austin/Swafford tried do pull off using the same back door tactics. Their only problem with that one was they had to work with other counties to make it happen, so they couldn't sneak around like this airport "agreement"...

I agree. After the Toll Road debacle two years ago, I guess he had to play his cards a little closer to his vest this time around. Don't you think it is a *conflict of interest* for anyone to be the Head Commissioner making all the decisions for the county, plus be on the Airport Authority at the same time??? His best ("trustworthy") buddy Swafford doesn't even live in Paulding County! And yes, he was part of the Toll Road project as well, even through he was acting as the airport manager. They are both shady. Greatly disappointed with David Barnett for not standing up (again

Because i t i s n' t "d e a d" (yet)...

Tahoe, Respectfully, I don't think anything I've posted on these boards is/was "low class". The facts are the facts. Austin tried to sneak this through without any public input, if that isn't true, please prove me wrong.

I respect your position, Surepip. I have only been a resident of Paulding County since 2005, so I'm not up to speed with all the ins and outs of the past history of what has happened. What I do know is that since this toll road project was begun, started and pitched to *other* counties (Douglas, Lamar) by Austin/Swafford before it was even revealed to local Paulding residents for input and feedback. This upcoming meeting on the 10th is the first time they are presenting this idea in a open public forum, and only because they were *forced* to. Yes, they were trying to sneak

The thing that really ticks me off is that the BOC (David Austin) tried to sneak this past everybody in Paulding while spending taxpaper money and time without soliciting any local public input on the matter, unlike Douglas and Lamar counties. We owe them a big debt of thanks for saying "heck no, not here", but they had the chance to do that in a open and transparent forum, unlike Paulding. The Burnt Hickory meeting on the 10th isn't an informational meeting called by the BOC about the toll road project, they only agreed to meet and face the public because the word got out and they are tr

Because the project isn't dead yet...I wouldn't believe anything David Austin tells you face to face at this point.