Wednesday, December 18, 2002

Councilman Murray Weed and I have represented the city in negotiations with the Peachtree City Development Authority for the past several months, and after at least a dozen meetings over a period of months, we managed to hammer out an agreement that was passed by the City Council, subject to clarification of how the debt was incurred and finding the most prudent way of financing the $1.4 million debt.

I am very thankful for the good-faith negotiations we entered into with the authority's subcommittee members, Brian Palmitessa, Bob Brooks, and Doug Warner, and we all worked hard to find an agreement that we could all live with. It is my belief that the authority gave more concessions in the new agreement than the city did, but I do feel the agreement is fair for all concerned.

While there have undoubtedly some been mistakes made in the past on everyone's part, as is the human condition, I am far more interested in finding a solution than I am in pointing fingers. I don't think it is helpful at this point that the mayor finds it necessary to request the resignations of the authority members and Virgil Christian.

The authority members serve with zero compensation, and they all spend a lot of their own valuable time trying to make Peachtree City even better than it is for all of us. In light of the current recession, Mr. Christian has done an admirable job in promoting development, and he was pivotal in Clayton State's decision to come to Peachtree City. In addition, Virgil has managed two vital city venues under sometimes trying circumstances, and while we are all very disappointed in the substantial tennis center cost overruns, we must be mindful of the big picture, and be certain to have all the facts and the intent of anyone's actions before passing final judgment.

My gut feeling is that the city and its citizens would be better served to have a solid agreement in place with the existing development authority and leadership intact rather than to attempt to reinvent the wheel.

Remember, the authority is now composed of several new members whose actions and spirit of community service should certainly not be questioned. I am very concerned about how the mayor's comments could affect other citizens from volunteering for public service on a board or commission.

Now is not the time to be demanding resignations; rather, it is a time to work together to resolve conflict and do what is best for Peachtree City families.

If it turns out that a new sports and entertainment authority is a prudent way to resolve the current conflicts and pay off the authority's debt without severely damaging the synergy that exists between the development authority and the tennis center and amphitheater, then we should study that proposal very seriously and determine the benefits and disadvantages of establishing such an authority, and make a decision based on facts.

To be effective, however, council must welcome and receive input from everyone, including members of the development authority and its leadership. My guess is that because we are all reasonable men and women, I am confident we will keep our collective minds open and make the right call.

The subcommittee will recommence its series of meetings to assess the current situation, in light of the mayor's recent statements, and hopefully concentrate on solutions rather than engage in inflammatory discourse. The citizens of Peachtree City deserve nothing less.

Dan Tennant

Councilman

Peachtree City