Tyrone won't get the extra $25,000 that it had requested from Fayette County to help improve Shamrock Park.

The county deeded the park to Tyrone last year at the town's request, and the park is now Tyrone's responsibility, commissioners said during budget discussions Tuesday.

“They asked for it — they got it,” said commission Chairman Harold Bost.

And in response to recent complaints from Town Councilman Ronnie Cannon that Tyrone isn't receiving its fair share of services for the tax money town residents pay to Fayette County, Commissioner Greg Dunn lashed out.

“We've been grossly misrepresented by some comments made by their representatives,” he said, adding that the county provides a great deal of money for recreation and other services in Tyrone.

The county continues to pay for a part time assistant to staff the park now that it is owned by Tyrone, though county administrator Billy Beckett said no money has yet been paid.

“It's purely on a reimbursement basis,” he said in response to complaints that Tyrone has never received the agreed-upon payment. “I've sent them a response in which I said in essence, `Send us an invoice and we'll pay you,'” Beckett said.

Town residents are welcome to use any of the county's recreation facilities as well, he said.

After the budget crunch is over, Beckett said he intends to respond to charges from Cannon concerning services received versus taxes collected from Tyrone. County staff are compiling information to exchange with town leaders, he said.

Peachtree City's request for $100,000 also denied

Peachtree City won't get the $100,000 it had asked for from Fayette County to help build a football field and track at Riley Park, but the city will get some money for its recreation programs.

During budget discussions Tuesday, the County Commission agreed to provide the same $50,000 in its fiscal 2000 budget that it has for several years as a way of encouraging the city to allow county residents to use its recreation facilities.

In a letter to county recreation director Mary Alice Lawrence, Peachtree City Recreation Commission Chairman Earl Spell Jr. had asked for the additional $100,000 for Riley Park.

“The newly designed field and track are to be used for the city's youth recreational football/cheerleading and track and field programs. Peachtree City residents, as well as Fayette County residents, participate in both programs,” Spell wrote.

Commissioners voted to deny the request without comment.

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