Wednesday, February 12, 2003
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Wednesday, February 12, 2003 |
Recreation authority vote on hold againBy JOHN
MUNFORD Peachtree City's bid to create a recreation and entertainment authority has again hit a slight bump in the road. The City Council had hoped to approve the draft legislation to create the authority at its meeting last week, but Councilman Dan Tennant was absent so the matter could not be approved with a unanimous vote. Council postponed the matter instead after being informed that state legislators might not look favorably on the matter without the full support of council. Councilman Murray Weed, who joined with Tennant in negotiations with the city's Development Authority to create the new authority, said he felt Tennant would be in full support of the draft version of the legislation that was before council. Tennant was "instrumental" in reaching an accord between the City Council and the Development Authority, Weed noted. The state legislature must approve the legislation to create the new authority, whose powers would mirror those of the current development authority. Council wants to transfer operation of the city's tennis center and amphitheater from the Development Authority to the future recreation and entertainment authority. The plan is for the new authority to issue bonds to finance $1.45 million in debt incurred by the Development Authority in the improvement and operation of the two venues since 1995 when the council asked the authority to operate both facilities. Attorneys for the city indicated recently that such a plan was the best way for the city to have the tennis center and amphitheater operated. Council members indicated that if possible they would like to handle the matter at a special called meeting before the next regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, Feb. 20.
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