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Arbitrator considers $360M airport contract 'reasonable'

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Posted 7:23AM on Thursday 14th March 2002 ( 23 years ago )
ATLANTA - A $360 million contract for a group of contractors to supply dirt for a new runway at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport was ``reasonable and advantageous to the city,&#39;&#39; according to a court-appointed arbitrator. <br> <br> In a 15-page report released Wednesday, Harry Griffin, who upheld the contract last month, said awarding 5R Constructors LLC the bid to supply and compact 27 million cubic yards of earth for construction of a fifth runway ``provides unmatched feasibility, schedule, safety and environmental benefits at the lowest possible cost to the city.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Griffin&#39;s decision allowed the $5.4 billion airport expansion to proceed, overriding the City Council&#39;s plans. <br> <br> The City Council rejected 5R&#39;s proposal last fall, suggesting a new bid was needed to restore public confidence in the deal. Council members questioned the cost of the contract, the fact that 5R was the only bidder and the role played by Clayton County developer C.R. ``Ronnie&#39;&#39; Thornton. <br> <br> Thornton, who was to provide much of the dirt to be used by 5R, pleaded guilty in October to federal crimes stemming from illegal contributions to Mayor Bill Campbell&#39;s 1997 re-election campaign. <br> <br> He was sentenced Tuesday to two years&#39; probation and fined $100,000. <br> <br> In Griffin&#39;s ruling, Thornton&#39;s role in the contract negotiations was dismissed. Griffin also cited two engineering firms hired by the city and Delta Air Lines that verified the $360 million contract was ``reasonable and advantageous to the city.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Hartsfield manager Ben DeCosta said he was ``pleased with the speedy decision.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Work is expected to begin before May 1. Planes could be landing on the new runway by the end of 2005. <br> <br> Atlanta City Council president Cathy Woolard didn&#39;t agree with the ruling, however. <br> <br> ``We had no competition,&#39;&#39; she said.

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