Blazing Saddles
Pursuit Driver
I love bacon.
Should have gone to the airport meeting today
- Thread starter naturegirl
- Start date
Madea
zip a dee doo dah
I knew the airport was a possibility when we moved here in the early 90s. Or shortly thereafter. And knew the Atlanta airport owned a good bit of property. However, there was also a time when it was stated that the Atlanta airport was no longer interested in building here.
honeybunny
Pursuit Driver
naturegirl said:
^^^ And this is my problem with the entire issue... secrets and lies surrounding the use of taxpayer dollars.
honeybunny
Pursuit Driver
ShoeDiva said:
I was at the toll road meeting, after they lied right to our faces I felt worse.
ShoeDiva
Shoes!!!!
honeybunny said:
I am not sure I remember what this toll lie is and it is wrong that you were lied to.
If not a town hall meeting, what would you suggest? I believe with the uproar there needs to be some conversation back and forth and not just them talking or sending out a press release or people writing blogs and starting Facebook pages.
ShoeDiva
Shoes!!!!
I know quite a few people that live very near the airport and they are not outraged. :dunno
Still going with I think it can be a good thing, but wish that all commissioners would have known. I think much of the bruh ha ha is because one was left out. (I have no idea why, but it sure seems to be working in his favor.) Also, in relation to that article, there are a few people that have told me they saw signs for the airport meetings, but could not attend. (meetings were during the day) So in that respect I do believe it is a truthful statement that the meetings were open to people. (though I have no idea what was discussed during them, because neither I nor any friends attended.)
Still going with I think it can be a good thing, but wish that all commissioners would have known. I think much of the bruh ha ha is because one was left out. (I have no idea why, but it sure seems to be working in his favor.) Also, in relation to that article, there are a few people that have told me they saw signs for the airport meetings, but could not attend. (meetings were during the day) So in that respect I do believe it is a truthful statement that the meetings were open to people. (though I have no idea what was discussed during them, because neither I nor any friends attended.)
unionmom
Pursuit Driver
In comments quoted by the local media Todd said that the Airport Authority did in fact have the authority to make the deal that they made.
Having said that, I do believe that the announcement could have been handled better and they should have anticipated a lot of the questions about funds, etc. and been ready with immediate answers.
Having said that, I do believe that the announcement could have been handled better and they should have anticipated a lot of the questions about funds, etc. and been ready with immediate answers.
Blazing Saddles
Pursuit Driver
Since the authority is an appointed position, do you have a problem of them spending tax payers money without your authorization?unionmom said:
unionmom
Pursuit Driver
Blazing Saddles said:
At this moment in time, it is irrelevant. If they have already been granted that authority than we the people can only work to stop them from doing it again in the future by petitioning our elected officials to change the level of authority that they have. As it stands right now it seems that they do in fact have it, at least to some degree. As I said, Todd Pownall is quoted in the media as stating that the Airport Authority did in fact have the authority to act as they did with this agreement.
Blazing Saddles
Pursuit Driver
Yes, I know what Todd said. He personally said it to me. But I'm asking you the question, "Are you ok with the Airport Authority having that kind of power to spend your tax dollars without a voice" . I'm not asking you if this is relevant for what has already happened, I'm asking going forward if you are ok with this board having that kind of authority? Yes or No?unionmom said:
Blazing Saddles
Pursuit Driver
I'm not anti airport either and I want industry in this county but this underhanded deal is not the kind of politics an ethical voter could possibly side with.
LisaC
I'm here to spin the moral compass.
Blazing Saddles said:
But, if these issues were discussed at earlier airport authority meetings that are open to the public and no opposition was voiced, should they have not entered into the agreement?
Based on comments by Blake Swofford, that sounds like exactly what happened. Am I mistaken?
I'm Floored
Lover of BS!
LisaC said:
They've already admitted that this deal was made secretly. And now they're saying it was discussed at the Airport Authority meetings? It can't be both ways!
Blazing Saddles
Pursuit Driver
Sounds more like CYA.LisaC said:
LisaC
I'm here to spin the moral compass.
Blazing Saddles said:
But, if they have the authority to make the agreements, even if as IF said that it was done in private (and I don't know if it was or not), then, according to comments from Pownell and others, they have that right. If that is how the authority was set up, and no one opposed the decision to give them that authority, then they are in no position to complain about this agreement. And, I'm good with them having that authority going forward because they have yet to demonstrate to me that they are abusing that authority.
This is just my take, but folks seem to be content with the airport as long as it is sitting there empty, but the moment someone actually tries to make it a success, they get their panties twisted... IMO, Todd Pownell should feel pretty upset with himself for letting his constituents down - the airport is in his district, he should have been sitting at those meetings instead of waiting for someone to send him an email.
unionmom
Pursuit Driver
He said that SOME aspects of it were discussed at meetings but it is absolutely common practice to make these sorts of deals with a good bit of confidentiality in order to get them done without outside influence (read Delta, Atlanta, competitive businesses, etc.)
As for whether or not I personally feel that they should have the authority to spend taxpayer dollars, to a degree I do. They should not have a blank check and they didn't. They and the Commissioners still had to vote on the bond to pay for it. They made the agreement then they and the Commissioners voted on the funds. Seems to me that it went as it should.
I just wish the announcement(s) had been handled better and all partied were better prepared with hard factual responses to questions, where possible.
As for whether or not I personally feel that they should have the authority to spend taxpayer dollars, to a degree I do. They should not have a blank check and they didn't. They and the Commissioners still had to vote on the bond to pay for it. They made the agreement then they and the Commissioners voted on the funds. Seems to me that it went as it should.
I just wish the announcement(s) had been handled better and all partied were better prepared with hard factual responses to questions, where possible.