As I predicted, the committee that Mayor “Annex” stacked with developer-friendly members approved his pet annexation project 10-to-5.

How friendly were they? Glad you asked. One member, Jerry Peterson, is a planner/architect for Pathway Communities (formally PCDC). Another member, Dave Fields, is a representative for John Wieland Homes and one of the property owners hoping for annexation. And then, of course, there is the head cheerleader, and pointman, Mayor “Annex.”

This was the political equivalent of putting the defendant in a murder trial on the jury and expecting him to be objective, possibly finding himself guilty.

And then there is lame-duck school board president, Debbie Condon, who talks out of both sides of her mouth. She has repeatedly expressed chagrin that our schools are overcrowded, yet on the annexation committee she is championing the plan with the highest density. Apparently she, like Mayor “Annex,” is only committed to wreaking as much havoc on our county as possible before her term is over.

Mayor “Annex” wants this annexation so that Peachtree City can “control the area’s development.” How dumb is that? If we carry that “thinking” to its logical conclusion, we need to annex all the rest of Fayette County so that we can “control the area’s development” along all our borders. No matter where the PTC borders are, developers will build just outside them, using PTC to attract buyers. PTC cannot directly control border growth.

In reality, this is the worst of areas to annex. Its border will run right up against Coweta County where Fayette County citizens will have no say whatsoever as to how the area is developed. At least we can appeal to the Fayette County elected officials as our representatives.

In the West Village Annexation Task Force minutes from Aug. 2, 2000, a question was asked as to how an elected official could defend annexing when Fayette County’s pools indicated that 70 percent of the residents were concerned about increased density.

The mayor said that he had been elected by residents to study the issues and make the best decisions for Peachtree City.

Wrong. Representatives govern a democracy. He was elected to represent us. When 70 percent, probably higher in PTC, are opposed to high density, the mayor is obligated to represent us, not the developers.

There have been many letters to the editor opposing the annexation, but not one supporting it. I do not know one person who wants annexation. We need to tell the mayor how unhappy we are with his bogus committee’s decision. From the PTC website you will find his e-mail address (blenox@cfc.com) or his address (407 Bradford Point, PTC).

Bill Webster
Peachtree City

Back to Opinion Home Page | Back to the top of the page