Wednesday, November 28, 2001
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Wednesday, November 28, 2001 |
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Why can't the county just talk with the cities? Mr. Editor, could you please help me out, because I don't quite understand all I think that I know. When the Peachtree City mayor issued the call (PTC Update Feb. 2001) earlier this year for city citizens to speak out publicly against the localized wrongdoing on the part of county-government-supported tax inequity, I was one among others who answered the call. The Fayette County commissioners (whom I will affectionately refer to here as the "fun-bunch") are at it again. One of the great mysteries of life, Mr. Editor, is this: What is it that happens to a person, such that after they get elected, they for some reason will lock down on discussing the public's business (a slap in the face of the good citizens that elected them), and they feel they can shut down on the citizens when it comes to public discussion or debate? What we've seen from the "fun-bunch" thus far is truly amazing. When any Commission comes forth with positions such as: 1) the issuance of a letter giving their "final answer," or 2) a blanket refusal to discuss the jail issue with the cities, or 3) a shutdown on talks with the cities on the tax equity issue, or 4) the senseless meddling with the town of Tyrone and their sewer woes, or 5) the inconsiderate and outrageous rezoning of the land area off Ga. Highway 74 South near Starr's Mill School complex, it just boggles my mind. Mr. Editor, please allow me to explain. You see, the cities and their citizens must now take the "fun-bunch" to court to get what we deserve from our county government. What we need is the opportunity for open discussion and debate. Let's look at tax equity. The "fun-bunch" loses round one. The "fun-bunch" had issued their final answer letter to the cities (The Citizen, 11/15/00). The "fun-bunch" rejects the professional report by the Governmental Solutions, Ltd., (report dated 5/16/00.) prepared for the FUTURES committee. The "fun-bunch" drops out of joint planning with cities on the FUTURES committee (The Citizen, 9/14/00). The county's former finance director put out a document (FC-REV-2), of which I have a copy, shows, for example, that Peachtree City provided revenue to the county of $9,029,648. The other document (FC-EXP-2), of which I have a copy, shows, for example, that the county only spent $8,068,812 on services to Peachtree City. How weird is that? Next thing you know is that the former county finance guru resigns to go and work for GRTA. However, that was OK with the "fun-bunch." One commissioner even stated (The Citizen, 6/20/01) that "there are some philosophical differences in the way you used to do things and the way some of us want to." This is their own guy. Ha, Ha. It just seems obvious to me that there has just got to be some professional expert that the county and the cities could agree on (say, at UGA or Georgia State). They could do the analysis and the parties could just agree to accept the results (whatever they are). The financial professionals at the universities might even do it for free. It just seems, O, so simple to me. Let's look at the town of Tyrone and their sewer extension. The "fun-bunch" loses round one. The county is hoping by filing suit in the county court that they can get a similar ruling as with the Chariots of Fire decision (The Citizen, 9/27/00). They believe that the county has the right to control sewage flow inside its borders. Here's what they haven't considered. Tyrone doesn't want spray irrigation. You can't just put a plug at the end of the pipe. Fayette County has taken the position that they are not remotely interested in going into the sewer business. Isn't it true that unlike the Chariots of Fire ministry, a town such as Tyrone has eminent domain powers? Isn't there such a thing as interstate commerce law? A judge will know all this. Simple again. The county talks about Tyrone creating high density issues and the county forgets about the fiasco they handed us with the Starr's Mill rezoning decision. You know, the simple things just seem to slip by me. Sadly, I was a little bit discouraged with our newest commissioner (as you know, he wrote the Fayette governments the letter). I would just hope that he doesn't come along just to get along with the "fun-bunch." You see, I asked him on the telephone if he was going to join in with the "fun-bunch" on their position on the tax equity issue. Do you know what he said to me? He just gave me their standard verbiage response why do it twice? You do it twice because the sooner the better. The more often the better. You do it now as opposed to later because if you can save me a dime now, it's better than saving me a dime later (because I can put it in savings and draw interest now). So simple in its concept. I won't even waste your time by talking about the "fun-bunch's" position on the jail issue. I must admit, the simple things slip by me. What's wrong with our "fun-bunch" government just discussing the matter, huh? Why can't we all just get along? County, please just come to the table. Where's the harm in that? I must close. When the final ruling comes down from the judge, I'm gonna predict that it will be just like that famous saying from that comedian from Miami Beach: "How sweet it is!" James Melvin Ewing Peachtree City
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