Last month Charlotte Nash won a special election to become chairwoman of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners. Her first meeting as chairwoman is Tuesday. Here’s a look at the issues she will encounter early in her two-year term:
Airport: Commissioners face a big choice about privatizing the county airport at Nash's first meeting.
For more than a year Gwinnett has talked about selling or leasing Briscoe Field near Lawrenceville. The airport currently serves corporate jets and other small aircraft.
At least one of the three firms interested in the airport wants to launch ticketed commercial passenger service with jets seating up to 140 passengers. Supporters say it would create jobs and offer a convenient alternative to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Citing noise, safety concerns and a negative impact on property values, some residents have mobilized against expanded passenger service. On Tuesday commissioners will consider a resolution that would allow privatization but rule out ticketed passenger service.
Nash has said she would support such a resolution. Other commissioners say the county shouldn’t rule out anything before exploring its options.
Budget: Like other local governments, Gwinnett has struggled to balance its budget as property values and tax revenue plummeted in recent years. The county began 2011 with an $18 million deficit in its general fund.
Commissioners have already taken steps to eliminate that deficit. But budget problems will continue as Gwinnett heads into 2012.
On Tuesday commissioners will consider $1.5 million in proposed cuts in spending. Among the proposed cuts: keeping 20 firefighting positions vacant until Nov. 1 ($721,599), eliminating four vacant positions in the Transportation Department ($193,743) and eliminating funding for school crossing guards for county schools ($126,639; the school district will take over this service in the fall and does not expect any negative impact). The county also will save $400,000 budgeted for a runoff election that became unnecessary when Nash won more than 50 percent of the vote in the March 15 special election.
Ethics: A grand jury report in October accused commissioners of paying too much for parkland in deals that benefited political allies. The grand jury indicted Commissioner Kevin Kenerly on bribery charges and considered a perjury charge against then-Chairman Charles Bannister, who resigned in October.
Nash has pledged to revise the county ethics ordinance and to revamp procedures for buying land.
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