Wednesday, May 16, 2001

Why is the city of Fayetteville requiring the Fayette County Board of Education to annex the 94.2 acres on Lester Road into the city? I know that it is the city's policy to only furnish sewage within their city limits. But shouldn't Fayetteville make an exception for the school board?

It is also the city's policy not to annex in anything that does not provide a benefit to the city. The planning commission did not feel that there was a specific benefit to the city from the school property. Therefore, which policy is the city going to disregard?

Fayetteville is a government entity, but so is the Fayette County Board of Education. This is not a case of a private individual requesting sewage. This is one government entity requesting a service from another government entity. Allowing a government entity availability of a service without annexation is not setting a dangerous precedent.

Fayetteville and the Fayette County Board of Education should cooperate. They should be able to find a way to best serve the citizens of this county without having to resort to annexation.

Since this is a county service area for water, the Fayette County Water Department will be providing the water whether it is annexed into the city or not.

Furthermore, the closest Fayetteville fire station to the Lester Road property is at the corner of Johnson Avenue and South Glynn Street. It is approximately 5.3 miles from that fire station to the proposed school property.

It is only two miles to the nearest county fire station, which is at Flat Creek Trail. Who do you think will respond if there is an emergency?

Incidentally, the city refused a request to develop a subdivision that would have been situated between Redwine Road and the end of Burch Road. One of the reasons that they cited was an inability to provide fire service. When the Stonebriar subdivision was developed, we were told at the public hearings that a fire station would be built at the corner of Old Norton Road and Lester Road. Homes now occupy those lots.

Whereas the county can best service the school property, this property should remain in the county. The city and the school board could enter into a contract between two government entities that would provide the needed sewage.

Cooperation should be the main issue when building this school, not demands. The Fayette County Board of Education should have a choice.

Nancy Charnock

Fayetteville

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