Wednesday, May 22, 2002
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Wednesday, May 22, 2002 |
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Godfrey: PTC Council is 'ethically challenged' The Development Authority of Peachtree City (DAPC) is appalled at the actions of the mayor and certain members of the City Council of Peachtree City last Thursday night. The mayor allowed a non-agenda item to be brought before the council and voted on with no public comment even though many folks wanted to voice opposition to their actions. On the surface this might appear a rather mundane piece of city business, but a closer look reveals this to be an indicator of a deeply troubling future for the citizens of Peachtree City. In order to explain this a little background is needed. Last year, the Peachtree City Council unanimously voted to enter into intergovernmental agreements that provide a certain portion of the city's hotel/motel tax revenues to the DAPC and to the Airport Authority. The DAPC has three missions: conduct economic development activities on behalf of the city, operate the Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater and operate the city's tennis center. The hotel/motel tax provided to the DAPC is used to pay for existing debt, pay for improvements to the amphitheater and tennis center and provide a small operating fund for our economic development activities. That fund has also allowed us to keep amphitheater ticket prices low and tennis activity fees low, as well. It is very important to note that the use of hotel/motel tax revenues is restricted by the state of Georgia to tourism and economic development activities. Since his installation as mayor in January, Steve Brown has tried his dead-level best to pry this hotel/motel tax revenue from the DAPC and the Airport Authority. The first ploy was to suggest that the city create an entertainment authority to manage the amphitheater, tennis center and other recreational activities. The largest crowd in the history of City Hall turned out to protest this suggestion and the idea was voted down. Afterwards, Steve Brown said that if the DAPC would help the other recreational activities in town raise some corporate sponsorships and if the DAPC would concentrate on his idea of economic development activities, such as improvements to the Ga. Highway 54 West corridor, then he would support the DAPC and not question the viability of our mission and funding. The DAPC has bent over backwards to accommodate the mayor and council's requests. The DAPC feels that the proposed improvements to Hwy. 54 West are important but not at the expense of our ongoing projects and financial commitments. We have met with other recreational leaders to provide support and organization to their activities and have held an economic development retreat to consider the suggestions of City Council. The mayor himself was present at the retreat and participated in the discussions. Now, Brown, in a highly questionable manner, is again trying to pry the hotel/motel funding from both the DAPC and the Airport Authority. Last Thursday night, Brown implied that the city attorney, Rick Lindsey, substituted language in the intergovernmental agreement different from the original version without prior consent of the city council. Further Brown, Steve Rapson, Murray Weed and Dan Tennant voted to hire outside counsel to investigate this allegation and explore the possibility of having the intergovernmental agreement voided in court through litigation. Brown conducted this ploy behind the scenes with apparently no discussion with the city staff, city attorney, or the two authorities. The fact is that the city council was provided with the exact language of the intergovernmental agreement as was voted on and approved by the council and signed by then-Mayor Bob Lenox. This is a matter of public record and has been confirmed by three previous council members who voted on the intergovernmental agreement. Brown could have known this had he discussed the issue rather than trying to surreptitiously "investigate" the issue on his own. Steve Brown has stated in public that he covets the hotel/motel tax revenues for his own pet projects, despite the fact that the money is mandated by the state as to its use and despite the fact that the DAPC has made serious commitments for this money based on an agreement from the previous city council. Covetous behavior leads to dishonesty and Brown has been less than honest with the volunteer members of the DAPC, with the employees of the DAPC and with the citizens of Peachtree City. Brown lead the DAPC to believe that if we would work with him to accomplish his goals he would support us in our funding and our mission. The recent actions of Brown and certain members of council belie their disingenuous concern for recreation and economic development in our city. The fact is that they covet the hotel/motel tax dollars and they will stop at nothing to get them. The sad thing is that Brown is willing to incur the collateral damage of impugning people's reputations like Rick Lindsey, causing mental anguish among loyal employees of the city and the authority, and trying to bankrupt the DAPC and bring down the success of the amphitheater and tennis center all because he disagrees with a decision that was unanimously approved by the previous mayor and council. As if these actions were not bad enough, intertwined in all of this is the equal pay lawsuit of Kristi Rapson against the DAPC. The DAPC maintains that the suit has absolutely no merit and the Authority will vigorously defend itself in court. Ms. Rapson's husband, Steve Rapson, voted last Thursday night to pursue the above described process of attempting to separate the DAPC from its funding. The DAPC feels that Mr. Rapson's ethical ability [to] vote on this matter is highly questionable. It would appear that Councilman Rapson has a vested personal interest in seeing the DAPC in tough financial condition in order to promote a quick settlement with his wife's lawsuit rather than expend the substantial sum that it will take to defend the Authority. This will not work. The DAPC will extend every effort and incur all necessary costs to defend itself in this frivolous lawsuit. The actions of Brown and Rapson have only strengthened the resolve of the DAPC. We are very proud of our accomplishments in bringing new industry to our city, providing entertainment at the amphitheater and bringing world-class tennis operations to our citizens. We have tried to work with this council to little avail. Our hope is that the citizens of Peachtree City will support us in our efforts and let the council know that covetous and ethically challenged behavior is not how we expect our city leaders to act. This letter is submitted by unanimous action of the DAPC at its regular meeting, Monday, May 20, 2002. J. Tate Godfrey Chairman Development Authority of Peachtree City
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