Friday, April 26, 2002
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Friday, April 26, 2002 |
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Council balks at police, fire funds for annual air show By JOHN
MUNFORD The Peachtree City Council has postponed a decision on whether to spend $21,000 for extra police and emergency personnel for the Great Georgia Air Show, formerly known as Wings Over Dixie. This year's show will be at Falcon Field Sept. 14-15, hosted by the Commemorative Air Force (formerly the Confederate Air Force) and the Peachtree City Kiwanis Club. Air Show Chairman Greg Hall formally requested the funds from the city to be paid directly to the public safety employees who participate in the function, which draws crowds from all over metro Atlanta. But council tabled the matter at its meeting last week so it could be provided with figures on the air show's budget. That action was opposed by Councilman Dan Tennant, who said he felt the city should support the air show. Council has supported the air show the past two years with commitments to spend approximately $21,000 on fire and police protection each time. Councilwoman Annie McMenamin, who previously has been involved with the air show through being on the Kiwanis Club, said the air show uses more than the minimum requirements for safety purposes. Last year's air show helped 38 local charities, many of whom had food booths at the show to raise funds. "We're giving this to a third party charity," said Mayor Steve Brown, who also acknowledged that the air show gives "a lot of exposure to the city." "It protects the citizens, for crying out loud," Tennant said. "It's not a donation." Brown said the funds could be used to fund other city projects such as playgrounds. "Then send them to the Kiwanis Club," Hall replied. Hall agreed that if the air show had funds left over it would repay the city for the police and fire personnel expenditures. Councilman Steve Rapson said he wanted to see the air show's budget to determine the risk of the city getting its money back.
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