Wednesday, February 26, 2003
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Wednesday, February 26, 2003 |
Tyrone gets ball rolling on downtown, four-year termsBy MICHAEL BOYLAN
When members of the Tyrone Town Council met for their annual retreat a few weeks ago, they discussed revitalizing the downtown area moving from their current two-year terms to four-year terms. At their meeting last Thursday, they got the ball rolling on both issues. Edgar Townsel requested a rezoning of 6.87 acres at the northeast corner of Senoia and Castlewood roads. Townsel plans on putting some retail and commercial propertries on the lot and plans on having a train depot theme that ties in with the nearby railroad tracks. Town Manager Barry Amos said that the rezoning was consistent with the land use map and that as long as the property met the conditions of having one road entrance and one drive cut on to Senoia Road, the staff would approve of the property. Members of the council were very excited about the property, on which the work should start within three months. "This could be the beginning of what was talked about at the retreat," said Mayor Sheryl Lee. The Town Council discussed revitalizing the downtown area with small shops and possibly a restaurant that would have a consistent theme and give the area an identity. The council also voted Thursday night to meet with state Rep. Virgil Fludd to find out what the town would have to do to move to four-year elections. Fayette County Board of Elections Chairman Steve Kaiser spoke at the retreat and said that a move to four-year elections would be cost-effective and would save citizens the trouble of having to vote at two separate places. Tyrone is one of two municipalities in the state that votes on two-year terms. When there are state or national elections, like this past election, citizens have to go to two separate places to vote - their precinct for the state and national elections and the First Baptist Church for the municipal elction. After the torrential rain during the recent elections, the town and the council were flooded with complaining calls. As for the expense, an election costs between $50-60,000. When Tyrone, Peachtree City and Fayetteville all have municipal elections at the same time, they share the cost. However, with Tyrone on two-year terms, they currently have to pay for every other election themselves. The council approved a motion to ask Fludd what criteria the town will have to meet to change their terms to four year terms and there is a slim possibility that they can get this before the legislature during their current assembly. In any case, it appears that this next election will be the last one in Tyrone to feature two year terms. The next election, in November of 2004, would be the first with four-year terms.
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