Fulton County

commissioners Wednesday "slapped the citizens of South Fulton in

the face," said District 7 Commissioner William "Bill"

Edwards.

"I'm very

disappointed," said Edwards following the commission's 3-3 vote on

his proposed resolution opposing extension of Hartsfield International

Airport's fifth runway. The vote was divided along north-south lines,

with those representing areas south of I-20 in favor of the resolution,

and those in the north opposing.

Officials broke

ground for the runway last month. It is approved as a 6,000-foot commuter

runway, but city of Atlanta officials are seeking federal approval to

add 3,000 more feet to allow large passenger planes to take off and land

there.

South Fulton

residents have risen up in loud opposition to the plan, saying the region

has already experienced more than its share of noise and pollution from

the airport and other environmental hazards situated disproportionately

in the south.

A consultant

hired by the commission to study the environmental impact of extending

the runway has reported that the extension would constitute a breach of

environmental justice, meaning it would have negative environmental impact

that disproportionately affects minorities and low-income people.

Edwards argued

that the County Commission's policies require that the county be opposed

to development in such cases.

"We spent

$240,000 for that survey, and they came back with a finding ... but we

took that and threw it in the toilet," said Edwards. "There

were 3,000 signatures on a petition [opposed to the extension] from one

church alone, and they still spit in these people's faces," he added.

After Edwards'

resolution failed to pass, Chairman Mike Kenn directed the county's environmental

staff to develop a set of questions and proposals for the city of Atlanta

to answer, including a request that in exchange for the county's support

on the fifth runway extension, the city agree to never propose a sixth

runway, and promise to mitigate the environmental impact on South Fulton.

Edwards said

he has no faith in that approach. "We've been down this road before

with these people," he said. "They don't want to negotiate.

It's all about building the airport, and they don't care who you've got

to kill to get the airport done," he added.

He also had

harsh words for North Fulton commission members who opposed his resolution.

"They won't even entertain a conversation about a second airport

up north," he said. "It's all about South Fulton and north Clayton

County, where you have minority and low income folk."

Vowing he will

continue to fight the runway plans, Edwards said he is stymied for now.

"I've done all that I can do. The people will take it from here,"

he said.