Wednesday, March 12, 2003
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Wednesday, March 12, 2003 |
| In PTC, $5000 is going to the dogs' (park) By JOHN MUNFORD
Despite pleas from several citizens for fiscal restraint, the City Council of Peachtree City voted to spend $5,000 as "seed money" to help an organization build a dog park for city residents. Council had previously agreed to donate a tract of land for the park, which will be located next to the Kedron Fieldhouse. Representatives of the dog park subcommittee, which is part of the city's Recreation Commission, urged for the funding to help get the ball rolling. The park will feature a special fountain with two separate faucets one up high for humans and one down low for the dogs. The $5,000, which will be taken out of the council's contingency budget, leaves just $22,000 in the discretionary fund for the remaining six-plus months of the year. Councilwoman Annie McMenamin was the only vote against the funding. "My concerns are basically about the money," McMenamin said, adding that she thought the city's miles and miles of golf cart paths are a good place for many dogs to get exercise. Proponents of the park argued that many residents would use the park to allow their dogs to get exercise and socialize with other dogs. Another plus would be giving the dogs a place to walk other than the city's cart path system, where some have complained of encounters with dogs, council was told. McMenamin suggested donating a prorated portion of the $5,000 since other council representatives pointed out the city gave $5,000 to help start the All Children's Playground initiative. That project needed $150,000 while the dog park project only needs approximately $14,000, McMenamin noted. Councilman Steve Rapson, who requested the $5,000 be funded by council, said such spending would not be what required a tax increase next year. "I'm not opposed to you coming back for the entire amount," Rapson told the committee members. The park would be run by volunteers, according to current plans.
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