Friday, August 24,
2001
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Officials can't get together on Duncan Park survival By JOHN
THOMPSON Fulton County and Fairburn officials are still trying to work out the details of who will pay for operation of Fairburn's Duncan Park. The matter created controversy earlier this summer when the option of closing the park was discussed between the two South Fulton governments. The two sides are trying to conduct a joint meeting on the issue, but Fairburn City Clerk Nancy Faulkner said officials haven't been able to agree on a date yet. The problem started when U.S. Census figures released earlier this year pegged Fairburn's population at over 5,000. Earlier, Fairburn had annexed the park into the city limits and Fulton County Commissioner Bill Edwards said a law requires that a municipality must start paying for a facility when it reaches 5,000 population. "I've put more than $1 million into that park. I can't do any more. It's their park," he said. Edwards noted that other Fulton County cities, such as Union City, have started paying operating costs for parks after they have annexed them, and now it's Fairburn's time to start paying the costs. But the problem is that yearly operating costs are more than $500,000 and Fairburn doesn't collect that much in tax revenue. Edwards said Fairburn Mayor Betty Hannah told him the city would have to close down the park because it has no money to operate it. But Edwards suggested the town impose a recreational tax on the citizens to pay for the park. "I'd be willing to help them pay for it until their tax collection starts rolling in," he said. Edwards said he's willing to meet with Hannah and the citizens of Fairburn to discuss the issue, but has not heard back from the mayor. Edwards said he believes the issue is pretty simple. "If you can't afford to pay for the services, don't annex the property," he said. Fairburn officials are maintaining that the law does not require them to pay for the park and both sides' attorneys are offering different interpretations of the law.
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