By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

The future of South Fulton residents who want to call Coweta County home is now in the fate of the Coweta County Commission.

Coweta County public information officer Tom Corker said this week the county could consider South Fulton's request as early as next Tuesday's commission meeting.

"It's still tentative if they'll discuss it then. We may have to call a special meeting before the Feb. 4 deadline," he said.

The Coweta County Grand Jury approved South Fulton's request to annex the area around the small community of Goodes into Coweta County Jan. 4. The commission has 30 days to render a decision.

Residents had gotten the backing of the grand juries in Coweta and Fulton County earlier this year, but the map submitted for annexation showed some parcels that would not be part of the annexation.

Four fed-up South Fulton residents started the ball rolling last spring by asking Coweta County to annex them.

The South Fulton folks had tried the annexation route in 1993, but were rebuffed when Fulton County asked for several million dollars from Coweta County for the water lines and structures Coweta would be receiving.

Currently, the residents, living near Goodes in South Fulton, are disgusted with the level of service they're receiving from Fulton County, said resident Dave McMurrain at a Coweta County Commission meeting last year.

The residents currently do most of their shopping in Coweta and are eager to send their property tax money to Newnan, McMurrain added.

The area proposed for annexation is 17,000 acres near the community of Goodes. The land is rolling hills and meadows and the commissioners want to see it kept that way if it joins Coweta County.

The commissioners suggested that a 10-year moratorium be placed on any development in the area.

South Fulton advocates have submitted estimates of the tax base they would provide to Coweta County and are waiting for a final decision on their fate.

 

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