Politics & Government

Commissioner: Airport Authority Pushed Changes Through Backdoor

Paulding County Post 2 Commissioner Todd Pownall said he would have voted no if the Airport Authority would have come before the Board of Commissioners but they "pushed it through the backdoor."

During a meeting of the Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport Authority on Tuesday, the room was full of residents with concerns and questions, including Post 2 Commissioner Todd Pownall

Residents' concerns ranged from the new fire station number 12, which will be located at the airport and serve some of the surrounding area; to new commercial traffic that the airport authority is courting.

The airport entered into an agreement with Propeller Investments on Friday, according to the AJC, to bring in commercial airline service and some aviation-related businesses.

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Under the agreement, the airport has been renamed Silver Comet Field.

The company said it is in talks with several commercial carriers and hopes to announce initial passenger service after receiving necessary federal approvals, the AJC reported.

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"My concerns are that people didn't know," said Paulding County Post 2 Commissioner Todd Pownall to Patch, after the meeting. "I wasn't aware of it until a week and a half ago and people weren't aware of it. They weren't told. I'm good with bringing in business to our County as long as its good for our community, good for the people who live around the airport. 

"We have an industrial area here around the airport and I'm grateful for business coming into the area and bringing in jobs," continued Pownall. "That's what our country's all about right now. I'm not okay with the commercial end of it. These people were told general aviation here at this airport. Now it's a game changer, they're going to bring in commercial. Folks are frustrated and they came out here today to get some answers. This was kind of pushed through the backdoor. The Airport Authority has the authority to do what they did but they did not come before the board of commissioners. If they had, my vote would have been no. 

"You don't do that to the people of your county," Pownall said. "As elected officials and as leaders of your community, you don't do things in your county without communicating to your citizens. 

"They kept it quiet because they knew what people would do," he continued. "You have a bunch of people who don't like it at all and they were told don't worry. They came out to the meeting to try and get some answers but they still don't like it is the bottom line.

"With this being my district naturally I live in this district," Pownall said. "I don't like it either. I don't like that side of it. Jobs, and bringing businesses in and having a general aviation airport, I'm good with. But the commercial side of it - absolutely not. I haven't had any of my neighbors or friends who are satisfied with that part of it either, or how it's been done."

Related Dallas-Hiram Patch stories:

Air Show Attracts 15,000 to 20,000 Over Weekend

Upset Residents Want to be Heard about Airport's Expansion…


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