Friday, February 2, 2001
Friday, February 2, 2001 |
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Lenox's priorities for last year as mayor include establishing cultural arts center
By JOHN
MUNFORD
This is Bob Lenox's last year to leave a mark on Peachtree City. The longtime mayor is about to finish his last year in office, since term limits prohibit him from carrying out another term. He could run for a council seat but he has no plans to do so. That makes this year Lenox's last hurrah. And there are several things he'd like to see happen before he leaves office. One of the top items is the establishment of a cultural arts center in the city. "We have plenty of places for you to play basketball and the like, but we don't have anywhere for you to watch a play," Lenox said in a special interview Wednesday afternoon. The city may be able to partner with the Endowment Committee for Cultural Arts of Fayette County to help get a performance arts venue running for the city. The city could manage the facility on a day-to-day basis, and ECCA has offered to raise the funds to renovate a structure. "They need to raise $300,000 and I believe they can do it," Lenox said. One possible location for the venue is the currently vacant movie theatre at Westpark Walk. Lenox said he has been working diligently to find funds to help make the performing arts facility a reality. "I'd like to make that happen now," Lenox said. Another of his goals is to "maximize the airport's contribution to the community," Lenox said. Other items on the mayor's wish list are admittedly more long-term and would likely occur after he has left office. They include a community center which could also serve teens and senior citizens and the completion of the development of the industrial park. Lenox challenges his successors to continue the pursuit of those two goals especially. The community center would also be a great place to hold a variety of community education classes which can't be offered now because there's no space available, Lenox said. "We have so much demand for classroom space," Lenox noted. Completing the industrial park development is important because local industries provide a variety of jobs for different types of people in the community, the mayor added. "First, those companies give back to the community," Lenox said. "Second, you don't have to drive 33 miles a day to get there." Lenox said the city has been running well because of the hard work from employees, which citizens sometimes take for granted. The City Council, however, has tried to recognize the employees' work, particularly through the recent pay plan that was adopted that gave raises to many city employees. "We didn't go from being ordinary to being extraordinary in just one day," Lenox said, noting that employees care about their jobs and offer suggestions on how to improve city services. "They make this place work. They're the best I've ever seen, bar none, and it's not an accident." In recent speeches to civic clubs, Lenox has emphasized the importance of satisfied citizens speaking up. Complaints about city government have increasingly come from the same people, leading Lenox to believe that there's a "silent majority" out there that's happy with the status quo but doesn't share that view out loud. "I am convinced that 90 percent of the people in Peachtree City are satisfied and happy with the way things are being run," Lenox said. The most important things city governments should provide include a feeling of safety, a solid education for children, the protection of property values, cost-efficient government and a sense of community, Lenox added. "The key thing is to make sure that what we have built is sustainable," Lenox said.
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