What our Readers Are Saying

Letters to the Editor

Mayor, ex-mayor differ on TDK plans

Mayor Brown’s side:

A year prior to my taking office, the previous City Council had invested $350,000 into the engineering of the TDK Boulevard extension project.

In addition, the council had made a commitment to fund our side of the road and a substantial portion of the bridge with a total cost in the millions of dollars. The City Council of Peachtree City even funded the engineering costs of the Coweta County side of the road.

Unfortunately, my council had inherited a budget where our cash reserves had been deeply depleted and revenues were down. To say that Peachtree City was not in a position to fund this road project was an understatement.

Past news media accounts were very clear on our budget dilemma and the fact that our city did not have the means to fully fund the project.

My council also had to shift priorities toward funding the matching share of the Ga. Highway 54 West widening projects and intersection improvements to the intersection of hwys. 54 and 74.

We have also been working in conjunction with the city of Senoia for several years on correcting a very dangerous situation with Rockaway Road.

We are on a very tight timeline with the Rockaway Road realignment project as the property owner in Peachtree City wants to develop his site.

Since our city does not have the funding to purchase the property from the landowner, we are working diligently to attract other funding sources including GDOT and developer participation.

It is important to note that the traffic-congestion model in the Fayette County Transportation Plan, released in 2003, only shows 3,700 vehicles per day using the TDK Boulevard extension in the year 2025.

In contrast, we now have 4,200 vehicles per day flowing in from Coweta County on the dangerous Rockaway Road.

Residential development has increased considerably on the Coweta County side of Rockaway Road and it is imperative that we keep that project as a priority.

The Fayette County government raised a significant point with their transportation model proving that the funding priorities of our City Council were, in fact, accurate.

Last year, I attended a meeting to resolve the situation with the TDK extension at the office of state Senator Mitch Seabaugh. Then-state Representative Lynn Westmoreland was also in attendance.

At that meeting, we made a firm commitment that Peachtree City would only be responsible for an additional $200,000 and that we would have no other financial obligations.

We gave the Fayette County Commission $200,000 and actually paid an additional $20,000 beyond our agreement for some supplemental work to be performed.

Peachtree City’s agreement with the Fayette County Commission stipulates that in addition to the $350,000 already paid we were to pay $200,000 and secure the right-of-way as well as provide the road engineering for the pre-selected route.

The city sent the $200,000 to Fayette County, secured the right-of-way and paid for the engineering ($350,000 in 2001) on the extension.

Unfortunately, the engineering firm hired by my predecessor failed to establish a channel of communication with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the road being located at the end of the runway at our Falcon Field airport. The FAA objected to the location of the extension road based upon their federal standards.

Peachtree City now finds itself in a position where we fulfilled all of our obligations by providing the funding, engineering and right-of-way for the pre-selected road bed only to find the process being significantly altered with a new set of guidelines concerning the FAA, Planterra Ridge Golf Course, property owners and additional expense.

Our City Council minutes clearly reflect that the council desired and agreed to a fixed cost and we exceeded that figure by $20,000.

The City Council made it unmistakably clear at the time when we approved the last funding that we were not willing to spend another dime on the project.

The traffic-congestion model in the Fayette County Transportation Plan reflects only 3,700 vehicles per day on the extension road in the year 2030 and it is abundantly clear what our priorities need to be.

I am not being critical of Commissioner Hunter in Coweta or state Senator Seabaugh as we all at one time thought that all we had left to do was to build the extension road.

Our circumstances have significantly changed but I still believe that the road will be built.

It is my hope that our county partners and the FAA can provide some of the financial relief needed to see this project through.

The Fayette County government has realized a substantial windfall with the recent approval of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and it is hoped that a small portion of these funds can be used to complete this road project.

Steve Brown, mayor
Peachtree City, Ga.

Former Mayor Lenox’s side:

Read Mayor Brown’s letter to the editor in this newspaper carefully. It contains many lies and misdirections, some of which I have tried to correct as follows.

When Mr. Brown took office in 2002 the city had nearly $400,000 invested and TDK [Boulevard Extension] was almost ready to be built. The city was in sound financial condition and funds were available to finish the job.

Mayor Brown signed a contract last year obligating the city to finish the engineering and provide right-of-way for the road. The contract specified no dollar amount for this work.

Now that this has proved to be a bit more costly and difficult than he envisioned the city refuses to abide by its contract.

Peachtree City now has about $600,000 invested in this road. Fayette and Coweta counties are doing the heavy lifting and paying for all the construction. Why not take a few of the SPLOST dollars soon to be flowing to Peachtree City, live up to our contractual obligations for a change, and spend the relative pittance necessary to protect our investment and get the job done.

Delay is costing us dearly. Mr. Brown has been in office for three years and virtually no progress has been made in all that time.

The FAA rules changed while he procrastinated. Costs have gone up and plans have grown stale while he has obstructed any progress.

Mr. Brown wastes money on legal fees, overpriced and unnecessary land acquisitions, speed humps and the like, but we have no money to finish TDK?

Ladies and gentlemen, here’s the long and short of it. The extension of TDK Boulevard has been the third most important road project in Fayette County for almost 10 years, but Steve Brown doesn’t want it built because it wasn’t his idea.

He has successfully delayed the project for three years. He will tell you that he would like to see it built and then offer 10 excuses why it isn’t happening. So here’s a challenge for our devious mayor.

Get this road built. If you can’t get one of the most important road projects in the county under construction by election time next November then you are either totally incompetent, or a stone cold liar.

In either case you need to get out of the way. We need a mayor who gets things done, not one who dithers, lies, obstructs, wastes money and accomplishes nothing.

Bob Lenox
Peachtree City, Ga.
[Lenox served as mayor prior to Brown.]

Bill Cosby is right; now let’s do something about it

Hello, my name is Mike Higgins and I am the senior pastor of Redemption Fellowship at 418 Ga. Highway 279, and also a mobilized Army chaplain at Army Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Ga. I wanted to send you a short e-mail that I sent to my church reference the “Bill Cosby Crusade.”

First of all, I think Bill Cosby is right.

Second, however, as he has stated, not all black people are guilty, but since we are sometimes treated and treat ourselves as a monolith, we all tend to have to “go down with the ship.”

Third, guilty or not, we all have to see that there is a problem and work on it.

Fourth, and most intriguing to me, is the phenomena that it usually takes a celebrity to stir people up as if the church, parents, grandparents, preachers, police, barbers, priests, and grocery store clerks have never said this stuff before.

I don’t fault the celebrities, I fault the majority us who employed the TV to raise our children while we were pursuing the “American dream.”

As a result, we and our children learned to take our “cues” from pop-culture and the media instead of the word of God and His church. Sometimes the media helped us, but most of the time it went against what we knew to be true. But we fell for it anyway.

Mr. Cosby was an example of someone who tried to deliver a healthy message to the home through television (whether you knew a Dr. Cliff Huxtable or not). But it was still just TV.

Bottom-line, it is the “real life” home that must be restored. This is not going to be easy, and the church has to get involved.

If children can disrespect parents, slap teachers, and “dis” the church, it is probably due to a lack of training in the home.

We must stop trying to be buddies with the children and parent and pastor them.

Therefore, in 2005, I am going to become a major player in Children’s and Youth Ministries (don’t bother me now, I’m working on my plan). I will work to try and revive the voice of the local church and the honor and prestige of the voices of our local heroes.

There simply are not enough celebrities to go around. To win this battle, there must be more heroes, more mentoring, more men, more women.

Mr. Cosby is speaking what is on his heart, and he has a right to; I just hope that this is not seen as another passing fad that dies out like moon rocks and mood rings. Listen to Bill, get fired up, and tell your pastor what you are going to do about the problem. Let’s work on it.

Mike Higgins, senior pastor
Redemption Fellowship
Fayette County, Ga.

Good job on open meetings

Thank you for your efforts to prevent an illegal closed meeting of Peachtree City officials, a homeowner’s group and a developer.

The meeting was obviously designed to pull the wool over Fayette County citizens’ eyes, and no doubt would have succeeded, had your newspaper not stepped up and prevented it.

A group of citizens in Pike County has been fighting this same kind of battle with a corrupt county commission board for more than two years. As the Chinese proverb goes, “It’s like a cat licking a grindstone,” but we are making progress.

We need more newspapers like yours that won’t stand idly by when elected officials and boards try to run over citizens.

Again, thanks, and keep up the good work.

Lloyd Gayton
Concord, Ga.

Will U.S. lose its Christian heritage?

The emperor, Julian the Apostate, who ruled the Roman Empire between 361 and 361, foresaw the demise of the Roman Empire.

He attributed its eventual fall to Rome’s embrace of Christianity and its “Love thy neighbor” philosophy.

This is because Rome’s culture was originally built around pagan faiths which reinforced Rome’s war-like way of life and substantiated their infamous displays of violent retribution and merciless attitudes towards their enemies.

Julian felt that the empire could not survive the loss of its pagan faith under the premise that a culture that grows out of religion, dies with it.

This viewpoint is substantiated in Edward Gibbon’s classic, “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.” Had Julian lived only 100 years, he would have seen his prophecy take fruition as the Huns invaded a severely weakened nation-state whose strength had been so reduced that it depended upon bribes and pleas of mercy by a band of clergy at the gates of Rome.

There are many, including myself, who feel that the U.S. is willfully reenacting the history of the Romans, this time in the reverse.

The secularists are assaulting our religious traditions through their often repeated ubiquitous chant, “The separation of church and state.”

This phrase does not appear in our Constitution or any major document; its only reference is in an obscure letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptists of Danbury, Conn.

In fact, it is documented that Jefferson prayed for our country publicly, ending his prayers in the phrase, “through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”

The fact is that this country was founded on the higher principles of God and country. By abandoning our religious principles, our culture will vanish as well.

Although this transformational assault is taking place 365 days a year, it is most vivid during Christmas. We can all recite numerous examples of this.

In Peachtree City last year, a very popular shopping center began referring to their Christmas tree as a “Peace Tree,” or maybe it was a “Holiday Tree.” To tell you the truth, I forget what it was called, and that is the point.

By assigning shallow and ambiguous names to our cultural symbols and icons, they become easily forgotten.

The phrase, “Happy holidays,” is as meaningless to Christians as it is followers of the Jewish faith, or any other faith-based religion. It groups everyone into one big generic composite that is void of significance to anyone.

In the end, the battle of the secularists is not to de-emphasize one religion over another; it is terminate our religious tradition, and thus our heritage, which consequentially alters our destiny as a nation.

It seems that the purpose of Christmas is slowly becoming little more than to serve as an economic boost to our economy.

On Thanksgiving Day we create our strategies for the following Super Shopping Friday. We then rush home to turn on the television news as they announce how good the retail numbers were compared to the year before.

We then spend the next month complaining about the stress we force on ourselves as we worry about what gifts we can possibly purchase for people who already have every known gadget under the sun.

In the movie, “Wall Street,” Gordon Gecko is asked, “How many yachts can you water ski behind?” Perhaps we should ask ourselves, how many sweaters can we possibly wear or how many televisions can we watch at one time.

Even if our friends and relatives don’t need these things, we know we must purchase them in order to sustain our national economy, or should I say, the economies of China and India, since that is where all of these gifts are made now.

If you value the original meaning of Christmas, then wish everyone you see on the street or at the shopping mall a “Merry Christmas” with a big smile of love and appreciation.

By reminding everyone what Christmas means on a personal level, we may be able to combat the secularists and stop them before they tear down our cultural walls.

If we don’t, then I fear that by the time my great-grandkids become old enough to ask society, “What is the meaning of Christmas?” the story of the Jesus, the wise men and the shepherds will be long forgotten, thanks to the secularists. The answer from the cultural leaders at that time may simply be, “It’s the economy, stupid.”

Brad Rudisail
Peachtree City, Ga.

Foodie, how could you omit Pascal’s?

Concerning FC Foodie’s “Year in Review” (12/15/04): While I agree with most of the comments in this brief overview, I was surprised and disappointed not to see “Pascal’s Bistro” of Peachtree City in those listed.

As a Fayette Countian for six years, I do believe in supporting the independent restaurants in this vast expanse of chain restaurant dining.

While Pascal has just celebrated the restaurant’s fifth birthday, it’s obvious that they have a loyal following as well.

I certainly believe this fine restaurant deserved a spot in your article and is a slap in the face for not being listed along with the other honorees: The City Cafe, The Village Cafe, Famous Fish Company and Valentino’s.

Shirley Daniel
Peachtree City, Ga.

Foodie misses good one

I have lived in the Peachtree City area for over 12 years and occasionally read your comments in the Dining Guide. I have noticed that your choices in restaurants are the same repetitive ones each week.

One mention I have never seen is Deli Delicious. They have great food and probably one of the best breakfast sandwiches for the money I have had in this town.

All of their bread, by the way, is baked by one of your favorites, City Cafe Restaurant. They give too much food to eat most of the time and [it’s] truly home-style.

I have been one of their customers for over three years. You speak of needing more independent establishments and yet you have failed to point out this little Delicious place that also takes care of all of our local concert series at the Frederick J. Brown Amphitheater.

Your selections of choice each week are tasty, I also patronize most of them, but perhaps looking around you and becoming aware of some Delicious meals (other than Chuck E. Cheese’s, previously commented on) and your food chains, might make you more of a food expert for our town.

Robert Kweil
Peachtree City, Ga.

Homeowners, beware of Frady, VanLandingham on rezonings

Homeowners, beware. I live close to Whitewater Middle School and was unaware of a plan to rezone 20 acres between Shamrock Drive and McBride Road, until a neighbor called.

Tom Reese, of Reese Developers, wanted to put an office park consisting of 22 lots, for commercial use with up to four floors, on this property he owns.

The meeting was held on Dec 9 with the Fayette County Board of Commissioners. About 17 residents showed up, with a petition in hand to argue our case.

We explained the unwanted retention ponds, increased traffic, a commercial eyesore right in the middle of residents, and the opening for other commercial buildings in our backyards. We would prefer that Ga. Highway 85 in Fayetteville not look like Hwy. 85 in Riverdale, with the congestion, empty buildings, etc.

Lucky for us, three commissioners voted for the people and I’d like you to know their names: Linda Wells, Peter Pfeifer and Greg Dunn. If it weren’t for them, the other two commissioners, A.G. VanLandingham and Herb Frady, would have allowed that hugh complex right in our neighborhood.

To quote one of these two commissioners, they wouldn’t want it in their backyard, but see no reason why it shouldn’t be built.

Please watch for rezoning signs in your neighborhood. They are usually put up close to the woods so to be less noticeable. It this happens to you, call on your neighbors so residents can stick together to keep our land from turning into concrete buildings and parking lots.

Also remember when it comes time to vote again, who listens to the people and who sides with developers.

Maty Mathews
Fayetteville, Ga.

Mother who lost son in hunting accident opposes hunting in state park proposal

As the mother of Gavin Gingerich, who was shot by a hunter in a residential area in south Fayette County [in the early 1990s] I need to let you know how opposed I am to the thought of state parks being open for hunters.

There are little enough rules and regulations regarding turning these “hunters” loose with high-powered rifles.

There are not remotely enough enforcement officers to see that these rules and laws are adhered to in order to protect innocent people. By the time the officers respond to a call the hunters are usually gone to another area.

With the state finances as they are there is no way that the state can hire enough rangers to assure the safety of all citizens in the state parks from the carelessness of a hunter.

State parks should be open year round and all citizens should be able to enjoy whatever amenities are offered with assurance of safety.

There are multiple hunting “accidents” where people are shot and killed every year. Hunting should be curtailed greatly, not encouraged at the expense of everyone else in the state.

In regard to the wildlife issues, the parks could hold a well-publicized closure while the sharp shooter specialist handles the matter.

A ranger should be at every entrance to the state park to be sure no one enters and rangers should patrol the perimeter of the park during this time to ensure that no one enters the park.

If the deer are not in an extremely emaciated state they could be processed and used for underprivileged citizens in Georgia that would like to have it for food.

The devastation of someone being killed by a hunter, the pain to the family at the loss, never ends. There are definitely other ways to handle the wildlife problem in the parks. People and their safety are the primary concern.

Gail Gingerich
Newnan, Ga.

PTC misuses power over developers

John Munford’s story that appeared in the Friday paper under the headline, “Developer vents at planners,” described developer George Herrington’s frustration at the Peachtree City Planning Commission’s micromanagement of his development on Ga. Highway 74 north.

For some reason, his comments and other information in the article suddenly provided a clear answer to the question I am so often asked, that being, “What has happened to our city?”

The most important part of the article is, “The (Planning) commission has more leverage than usual for the store because it is on property zoned limited use commercial, which puts more restrictions on the type of architecture that can be used.”

Yes, it is indisputable that the Planning Commission does indeed have more leverage, authority and power with this type of zoning, but why must that leverage always be used and sometimes misused?

Naturally, we do need regulations and guidelines to maintain certain standards within the city, but using leverage and power to the maximum extent, especially when the decisions made are in conflict with business fundamentals, cost efficiency or even plain old common sense, is precisely what has gone wrong in Peachtree City, especially the last two years.

Our elected and appointed officials have exactly the same amount of leverage and power they always did, only now they are blatantly abusing that power to control things that are truly none of their business and often outside their area of expertise.

Mr. Herrington certainly should have the right to decide between brick and stucco on his own building, especially since he alone will be responsible for building and maintaining it, but larger and longer lasting abuses of power have occurred when our mayor and council (sometimes individually, sometimes collectively) have done such things as:

1. Soliciting developers for annexation.

2. Passing a building moratorium against the advice of the city attorney.

3. Attempting to have a secret meeting with the Target developer and others, this time with the approval of the new city attorney.

4. Delaying the TDK extension against the advice and wishes of almost everyone.

5. Positioning Peachtree City as a poor credit risk by playing dodge ball with a local bank over a $1 million loan to the city’s Development Authority.

6. Creating a non-smoking ordinance for those of us who are too stupid to avoid places where second-hand smoke is present.

7. Purchasing a commercial site worth $400,000 for over $800,000 for the “Bridge to Nowhere” and

8. My personal favorite, our mayor telling us to shoot ourselves in the foot and vote against the SPLOST and the millions of dollars of much-needed road improvements earmarked for Peachtree City.

It was certainly tempting to come up with two more examples and present this as a Dave Letterman-style Top 10 List, but there’s nothing funny about any of it.

Truly powerful and successful leaders use their leverage and power wisely by considering win-win solutions for all involved without any concern for who receives the credit or publicity for the solution.

Others who usually only have temporary power sometimes use that power to seek publicity, push personal agendas and trample those that oppose them.

I hope that everyone pays careful attention to which type of leaders we have in Peachtree City.

This is my personal opinion, not the opinion of any of the fine organizations to which I belong.

Rick Schlosser
Peachtree City, Ga.