Tennis center expansion contracts get PTC council approval

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

The expansion of the Peachtree City Tennis Center got its final go-ahead from the City Council last week.

Council unanimously approved three contracts for approximately $2.507 million to build six new covered courts and a clubhouse facility with extra office space.

A 15-year loan will be used to pay off the project with funds from the city's hotel-motel tax. Virgil Christian, director of the center, explained that much is being done by the tennis center to attract tournaments and other non-tennis related hotel business to Peachtree City. He explained that the center hopes to draw a major tennis company's annual sales meeting to local hotels.

Councilman Steve Rapson warned that if the economic slowdown continues in the local hotel-motel industry, the city may need to figure out other ways to help pay for the annual debt service on the expansion, predicted to be a little over $200,000.

Mayor Bob Lenox said if the slump for local hotels and motels continues for over a year, council may have to raise the hotel-motel tax from its current 5 percent to possibly 6 or 7 percent.

Councilman Dan Tennant originally suggested that the city wait 60 to 90 days before executing the contracts to see if the hotel-motel tax revenues will stabilize. That option was passed over, however.

Tom Farr, chairman of the Development Authority, which operates the tennis center, said the full cost of the construction won't be due until after all the work is complete. He added that local hotel and motel representatives were told those increased taxes would be used to fund the expansion.

Farr said with negotiated reductions from the main bidder, Group VI, the city will get a facility with a value of over $3.1 million.

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