Wednesday, October 8, 2003

Councilman Tennant: Let's take more time for good plan

I have read everything you have said regarding the DAPC in recent issues of The Citizen. While there is no doubt that needed change is coming in the management of these venues, I simply came to the conclusion that the city was not prepared or equipped to run these facilities in 30 days.

After consulting with our city manager and city attorney and others, we were going to be in a real pickle to pick up the pieces as of Nov. 1. To me, it made more sense to hold off awhile, let everyone calm down, let everyone sit down and talk and work out a long-term solution.

We as a city certainly aren't ready to absorb dozens of new employees with benefits, nor do I think we are equipped to do so. This decision has major long-term implications.

How are we as a city to afford these new employees at taxpayer expense? What about the debt? What about the hotel-motel tax ramifications? What about impending sponsorship agreements? What about vendors and suppliers and the myriad of questions surrounding operations?

You simply cannot achieve a fair, balanced and well-thought-out plan when you are handed these facilities over and have 30 days to figure all this out.

I am sure [Mayor Steve] Brown would have you and others believe that this is a delay tactic, that I somehow have allegiance to the current authority, etc. Wrong. I simply think cooler heads need to prevail.

We've gone down the road this far; now is not the time nor is this the manner in which a transition to a better way of managing these facilities occurs. It is foolish to throw the baby out with the bath water.

Just ask that you keep an open mind here and know that my motives are sincere and well-thought-out.

In the end, it is my very fervent hope and prayer that a better, sensible, workable solution to these many problems is found. It never hurts to take a little more time to make sure that happens.

Daniel R. Tennant

Peachtree City, Ga.