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Mayor Betty Hannah swears in the new Fairburn Police Chief Charles Long. Long said is looking forward to working with the residents. Photo / Lindsay Bianchi.

New faces in Fairburn

By LINDSAY BIANCHI
lbianchi@thecitizennews.com

The installation of Fairburn’s newest council member, Mario Avery and newly hired Police Chief, Charles Long opened the City Council’s October 25 meeting on a high note. City Clerk Nancy Faulkner read the election results to the council who passed them unanimously.

Councilman Avery was sworn in by his mother. Mayor Hannah took the honor of swearing in Chief Charles Long.

The mayor then heard public comments concerning subdivision construction. Rodger Zachary of 141 Woodway Road spoke for a dozen of his neighbors who came to protest disruptive construction on a site near the Rivertown subdivision. After hearing the complaint, Mayor Hannah said curtly, ‘We will speak to this developer.”

Public works employee of the month Lonnie Brown was then presented an award before the council by the mayor. Brown, who has been with the street department since September 2000, was “instrumental in completing the Smith Street project,” Mayor Hannah pointed out.

More recognition followed with the mayor and council applauding the good detective work, which led to a major identity theft ring bust.

Detective Ben Pace was commended along with several other officers and dispatchers who “put in a couple of 20 hour days.” the mayor said.

Credit cards and checking accounts using other peoples’ names as well as an airline ticket out of the country were found at the Sure Lock storage facility after an employee alerted authorities to suspected drug activity.

A “drug sniffing dog” helped find more than drugs. The ring of counterfeiters was apprehended. An ongoing effort to locate possible accomplices and more identity victims is being made.

City Administrator Jim Williams took over with the evening business by turning the councils attention to water tap and sewer tap fees.

“Taxpayers are subsidizing all the new houses going up,” Williams said.

A 61 percent increase in housing in the past three years has become something of a burden for Fairburn’s citizens, Williams said after stating the tap fee figures. Water tap fees previously at $500 have been raised to $2,700, more than five times the old price. The new cost is more in line with what other surrounding communities charge.

Sewer tap fees went up from $1,800 to $3,500.

“It is long past time these fees have been levied.” Williams declared, adding that this was for all new taps “From this moment on.”

More water concerns followed with the mayor and council approving a 60-day moratorium on issuing any new permits and plan approvals anywhere north of U.S. 29 and west of Virlyn B. Smith Road, as well as any property north of Rivertown Road and west of Mary Erna Drive. A serious water availability problem made the measure necessary. Emergency fire flow was approved and Council member Marian Johnson motioned for the moratorium. Council member Doug Crawford seconded it. The proposal passed unanimously.

Two vehicles from the police department were then declared surplus property after Jim Williams described their outworn condition to the council. Councilman Roy Farr motioned for approval with a second from Councilman Ron Alderman.

Approval to purchase six new Motorola police radios to replace obsolete models and 2 dispatch consoles for the newly remodeled police station was granted with a motion from Councilman Crawford and a second from Councilman Alderman. The radios will cost the city $15,304. The consoles will run $9,700 for the pair. Money for the purchase of these new items was included in the new 2004-2005 budget.

Before the meeting ended, Mayor Hannah made her recommendation to fill Councilman Avery’s seat on the Development Authority. Jeff Couch was nominated and unanimously approved by the board. Couch has been in Fairburn for about 4 years.

“He has a restored home on 29 and is making of some wise investments in the city of Fairburn,“ the mayor said as Couch stood up to be nominated.

There were welcomes all around for Chief Long and fellow council member Mario Avery. Avery said it was an honor to be on the council. He thanked his mother and sister, correcting his thanks to his “best friend” identifying her as his fiancé.

“I definitely want to thank my supervisors.” Avery said in conclusion promising to be “on constant alert” as the newest member of the Fairburn City Council.

Finally, the mayor wrapped up the evening by unveiling a new promotional campaign for the city.

A t-shirt emblazoned with a logo stating “South Fulton. Good things happening.” was held up. Signs and other visual formats will spread the message of positive growth in the ever-growing South Fulton area.

Councilman Mariane Johnson, who has been a large part of Old Campbell County Days and the Homecoming parade thanked all those involved saying the homecoming “was the best it’s ever been.” Councilman Roy Farr added his thanks to the police department for doing such a good job during the festival.

The council adjourned with no executive session being held.