Wednesday, January 22, 2003
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Wednesday, January 22, 2003 |
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New authority to have some familiar faces By JOHN
MUNFORD
Management of Peachtree City's amphitheater and tennis center will be handed over to a new seven-member "sports and recreation" authority that will have some familiar faces on it, according to a plan endorsed by the City Council. The "compromise" between the council and the city's development authority which currently operates both venues for the city involves having two members of the current development authority serving on the new sports and entertainment authority. A citizen member of the development authority's tennis center advisory board and its amphitheater advisory board will also be seated on the new authority. The other members will include two citizens at large and the chairman of the Peachtree City Recreation Commission. City Attorney Ted Meeker wanted to smooth out some of the details, so the matter will be discussed again at the council's special called meeting Thursday night at 6 p.m. Part of the rush is that for the new sports and entertainment authority to be created, the Georgia legislature must pass enabling legislation before the session is adjourned. At last Thursday's council meeting, several residents complained that council's plans would not restrict the new sports and entertainment authority from going further into debt on the tennis center and amphitheater. "I just want the (tennis) center to be run fiscally well," said Ron Small, adding that he wanted to see the input from business owners on how the facility should be run. Several council members countered that they will have more control over the new authority because they will get to select the new authority members. Mayor Steve Brown, a vocal critic of the current development authority, said the resolution was a compromise and that council would keep a closer eye on how the new sports and entertainment authority operates the tennis center and amphitheater. The development authority currently has approximately $1.456 million in debt for improvements made to both facilities. Council wants the new sports and entertainment authority to assume the debt by issuing revenue bonds, which would likely net a cost savings to the city over the development authority's current financing. "This is the best situation that could be worked out at this time and not go to court for years to come," said Councilman Murray Weed. Councilwoman Annie McMenamin said she felt the plan "allows the employees of the tennis center and amphitheater to have job protection and allow the members of the new authority to fairly assess the performance of those individuals." Councilman Dan Tennant said he didn't think "anything was done underhandedly at any point" in the way the current setup was constructed to have the development authority operate the tennis center and amphitheater. McMenamin, who was on council when those talks first took place in 1993, agreed. "I assure you ... everything was done on good faith for the citizens of Peachtree City," McMenamin said.
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