Wednesday, July 25, 2001
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Wednesday, July 25, 2001 |
| Neighborhood
associations band together in N. Fayette
By DAVE HAMRICK
More than 20 neighborhood associations in north Fayette County have joined forces in hopes of developing a more effective voice in dealing with issues in the area. First on the North Fayette Homeowners Association's agenda is opposition to a proposed power plant just over the county border in south Fulton County. But that's just the beginning, said Virgil Fludd, who was named president of the group in an organizational meeting last week. The association's goal will be to act as a conduit to be sure all the neighborhood groups in the area are on top of every issue that comes along, he said. "Sometimes we get very myopic," said Fludd. "Just because the issue is not necessarily impacting my neighborhood doesn't mean I shouldn't be concerned about it," he added. What's happening in the local schools, transportation improvements and zoning issues are among the areas of concern, he said. "We want to make sure people are aware and pool our resources to be more effective," he said. For instance, among recent issues that were catalysts in forming the group was a zoning application for a cemetery next to some north Fayette neighborhoods. "That's a great example of residents from a number of communities voicing their displeasure," said Fludd. "And the county commissioners heard their voices and said they were not going to change that zoning." The idea is not to bring together numbers of people from each neighborhood in mass meetings, he added, but for each neighborhood to send a few representatives to NFHA meetings and then report back to their own associations. NFHA is working with a new group known as Safeguard South Metro, which includes residents in Fayette, south Fulton, Henry, Clayton and Coweta counties, to oppose Williams Corp.'s rezoning application for a power plant. Company officials say the power plant is needed to ensure future electrical power supply in Georgia, and because the plant will be gas-powered, they need the proposed location because of the availability of a natural gas pipe line. Residents say the plant should be not be built in a residential area. Once that issue has been decided, Fludd said, Safeguard South Metro probably will cease to exist, but the North Fayette Homeowners Association will continue to confront issues into the future. The group's next meeting is Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Country Lake community center, 255 Morning Springs Walk. Officers named at last week's meeting include Fludd, a resident of Country Lake; Vice President Alice Jones, of Northridge; secretary Jeanne Brumlow of Newton Plantation, and treasurer Tonya Truesdale of Dix Lee-On. For information phone Fludd at 770-719-8380 or e-mail vfludd@mindspring.com.
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