Maybe you thought your headline was being funny but I personally thought it was disrespectful to Chick-fil-A. The article was informative but the headline was out of order as far as I am concerned. I look forward to reading The Citizen and this is something I thought I needed to reply to. I have no personal affiliation with Chick-fil-A but think they are a good corporate neighbor and having their chicken planes in our airport would be a good addition.

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What do the PTC Tennis Center and the Airport Authority have in common? Special insider deals on business and perks; unprofitable operations that can’t make it in the business world; taxpayers will need to bail both of them out; open meetings violations; common members like lawyer Doug Warner. And people in PTC keep letting this happen again and again — why?

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The Fayette County School System is going to ease overcrowding at three schools, Peeples, Burch Elementary and Whitewater High, by making the teachers send their kids somewhere else. Since Peeples Elementary is getting very close to 900 children, I am wondering how many teachers’ kids go there. Surely there can not be that many. I cannot understand why the Fayette County School System would penalize the teachers. Don’t we want the best teachers? If we want them, then their kids should be able to come with them. Why won’t the school system redraw some lines to ease the crowding? They would rather hurt the teachers than the owners of expensive homes/developers. After all the controversy over the new middle school, we have to know for a fact that Rising Starr is not overcrowded or that would have been fixed when drawing the lines for Bennett’s Mill Middle, right? Overcrowding is in the future though. There is a brand new neighborhood going in right next to the middle school and two new neighborhoods approximately four miles down the road zoned for Rising Starr Middle. A lot of people do not realize how many fifth graders are on their way to Rising Starr. Peeples Elementary is sending eight fifth grade classes over; how many are coming from Braelinn, Oak Grove and Spring Hill? Surely there is a better answer than penalizing teachers.

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To the happy people at a local school in PTC: You cannot speak for all unless you have spoken to everybody and they have agreed to the same comment. That is not the case here. People can speak their own mind about whatever. As a parent, something is wrong at that school. About 75 percent of the staff fear [making] simple mistakes because they may get written up. I hope FCBOE does something to stop the ongoing problem, but like all other matters they just sweep it under the rug. These are all facts and not lies because I am at that school at least three days a week.

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Our DA: You can take the lawyer out of the criminal defense bar but you can’t take the criminal defense out of the lawyer.

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I saw on Friday night’s news that our representative in Congress played politics with Valerie Plame during her testimony by asking if she were a Republican or Democrat. Seems to me that he plays politics as well. Why do I say this? Several years ago my spouse, who is more liberal than I, registered Republican so that she could vote for someone she admired in the Republican primary. Now, she gets newsletters from Westmoreland which state, “This mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense,” and more boldly, “Official Business.” I, on the other hand, a registered Democrat, have yet to receive one mailing from our congressman. Apparently the only constituents who matter to him are those who he thinks think as he does. But if it’s official business, then I, Libertarians, Green Party members, Independents, etc., all should be receiving these “official” mailings, too, shouldn’t we?

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On Page A2 in Wednesday’s paper there was a short article about another six-month delay in the restoring of Huddleston Pond. Our city engineer, David Borkowski, stated that the delay was caused by the process of seeking federal permits. We are not asking for something new; this pond has been here for many years. If Mr. Borkowski did not know last year that he had to apply for these permits, then he obviously does not know what he is doing. What has he been doing since last October when the City Council had the last update to get this project going? This pond is used by many residents of this community and has been an eyesore for too long. I would like to see The Citizen report on exactly why the restoration is not a concern except to be discussed every six months or so.

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I thought we went to church to fellowship, to visit with friends and family, not be reprimanded for doing so.

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Would it kill the prospective employers who run classifieds for potential employees, asking them to fax a resumé, to respond or confirm that the resumé was received? Since the fax number given is the only way of communication, we have no way of knowing if it was received or not. Come on, boss, let us know something.

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Could someone light a fire under Derek Sorensen, the new director at the Fayette County Permits and Inspections Department, to approve some permits? We are only trying to add on a screened porch and deck, not a West Wing. We are now in our sixth week of trying to get permit approval. Why does it take so long to get a permit? Please stop causing so much heartache on Fayette County contractors and residents who simply want to enjoy their summer months not getting bitten by mosquitos. This is getting ridiculous.

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I really hope that Fayetteville police enjoy using the money from my outrageously priced citations to buy more unnecessary new vehicles. That way they can continue to harass local residents in style. By the way, Chief Heaton, I think those new cars need a few more bright blue LED lights on them.

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The Peachtree City Planning Commission heard support and opposition for the rezoning of the land at Ga. Highway 74 and Rockaway Road from General Industrial to Limited Use Commercial at their Monday meeting. After three hours of Wilshire residents voicing the same concerns — need more cart paths, Holly Grove is a potential traffic menace, need to keep children safe — the Planning Commission postponed the decision regarding the rezoning application in order to give the Wilshire Estates Homeowners Association time to meet with the developer and work through concerns. This is certainly a positive step, but we all need to understand that there are issues the developer can address and there are issues that only the city can address. And, most of all, the primary complaint about the Rockaway Road realignment is an issue only the state DOT can address. The residents’ accusations that this realignment is generated by the developer is completely unfounded as I was told and read in media coverage that the state had planned for this realignment to relieve unsafe conditions presented when cars were attempting to turn onto Hwy. 74 from Rockaway more than 20 years ago. This was a big issue when the city placed the athletic complex in the area and has only worsened as residential development on Rockaway Road has exploded. This road alignment must take place regardless of the outcome of this rezoning effort for the safety of our families. That being the case, it only makes sense to commercially develop the property simultaneous with the road realignment in a way to be an overall benefit to our southern part of the city.

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If that Lowe’s goes through on South 74, we’re going to be listening to all the Wilshire Estates homeowners in the future whining about the traffic snarls. It’s stupid to build that kind of development near our elementary, middle and high schools too. We have a law about big box stores, so how about enforcing it. This is like the development authority clowns thinking the law was beneath them. Obey the law of the people.

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My family has resided in Peachtree City six months shy of 30 years. You can believe we have seen a lot of change in our city over that time. Some of the changes over the years were negative, but I’ve never, and I mean never, seen anything like what we are experiencing now. Peachtree City as a planned city has lost its underlying set of principles. Steve Brown was completely right in his letter to the newspaper about our village concept being destroyed with these big regional stores. For three decades we have had the privilege of getting to know the special people moving here because our city offered something categorically different in the way of planning design. There was once a day in our city when we fought with great energy and vigor to protect our special position as a city that refused to conform to the way everyone else in the country thought you ought to develop a community. Our Planning Commissioner Patrick Staples said the Wilshire big box fellow needs to tweak his plans to make it like Peachtree City. I must say to Commissioner Staples that big boxes have never been an element of Peachtree City’s vision, and that’s been abundantly clear over the years. I called over to City Hall and found that Commissioner Staples has lived in Peachtree City less than four years. It’s disappointing that the city would appoint someone making such decisions of great magnitude with no real understanding of our city. The area on the south end of Hwy. 74 has always been a very picturesque part of our community leading down to the old Starr’s Mill. The allure is going to vanish with this bunch of councilmen we have now. Shame on us for holding a diamond in our hands only to let it fall through our fingers never to be seen again.

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One more time! I cannot understand why the developers and our so-called advocates in City Hall are so gung-ho about turning Peachtree City into another so-so suburban rat race. Why not redevelop the Braelinn Village shopping center? Redevelop Harmony Village. Tear it down and start all over. I agree with the poster of the previous Free Speech. We live in a beautiful upscale community, our retail should reflect that. How about Crate and Barrel? We don’t need a Kohl’s; Sam’s, Costco, BJ’s are within 30 minutes of us. It is tragic how greed is such a motivator, and how it will impact our quality of life as more traffic, crime, and litter moves in with the development. Logsdon and his cronies would be singing a different tune if they lived in a subdivision who would be put at risk by such irresponsible overdevelopment. And true, the survey was a big joke to make some of us feel like we have a say. Whether you agreed with Steve Brown or not, he communicated, responded to emails and was always a gentlemen. This current bunch are sarcastic and flip, and totally hate the fact that we have this Free Speech venue. They say we shouldn’t believe what we read here.

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It’s interesting to hear that the residents of Wilshire Estates are worried about cut-through traffic on Holly Grove Road when the newest big box development arrives in their back yard. I wonder how these same residents got to Home Depot and Wal-Mart while Hwy. 54 was being widened and before the speed bumps were installed in Planterra Ridge. Sounds a bit hypocritical to me.

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The City Council is crazy if they’re going to keep pursuing TDK and the big boxes. That’s all we need, another home improvement store. What happens when either Lowe’s or Home Depot runs into financial hard times and starts pulling the plug on some locations? It happened to the big drug store chains. It’s so sad that a city as special as ours would dive into copy-cat retail boxes. Is there anyway to call for a vote of confidence for planning commissioners and the city councilmen? Judi Rutherford is also a big hoot demanding proof that an expansion for the Gathering Place is necessary at the same time she’s in the process of annexing land to build 800 homes for senior citizens. What are we going to do about the increased EMS calls, too, and who’s going to pay for it?

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Question: Who said, “Brown said he had no problem with the TDK Boulevard project. Brown also expressed appreciation for Coweta County’s support of the project. He said funding for the project was the number one concern?” Answer: Steve Brown, Letter to the Editor. Oct. 5, 2005. Question: Who said: “Our current council was the only one that actually programmed funds in the city’s budget for TDK. ... Brown said there was not a person on Council against TDK”? Answer: Steve Brown, Letter to the Editor, Oct. 5, 2005. Question: Who said, “Councilwoman McMenamin made a motion to which I seconded to sign a resolution in support of the TDK project”? Answer: Steve Brown, Letter to the Editor. Oct. 5, 2005. Question: Who said, “At the end of every council meeting Councilman Rapson publicly asks our city staff if there is anything that the city of Peachtree City is doing to hold up the progress of the TDK Extension project. The staff always replies, ‘No.’”? Answer: Steve Brown, Letter to the Editor. Oct. 5, 2005. Question: Who has never discussed why he made these statements or why, as mayor for four years, he never cancelled the TDK project? Answer: Why, Steve Brown, of course. Inquiring minds want to know, Steve, why did you overwhelmingly claim support for TDK and never kill the project?

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Even if Steve Brown has been right on a number of things, I still don’t think that he should be allowed to impose his opinions on the public through this newspaper. Upsetting the public is not the answer. Mayor Logsdon may not have portrayed the TDK Boulevard matter entirely accurately, but he still deserves the benefit of a doubt on the matter. I think if he changed his stance from two lanes to four lanes on TDK Boulevard to account for the large number of cars coming from Coweta County and addressed a plan for raising the tax dollars necessary to widen our roads and intersections, most citizens would take his side.

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Stop the charade. Surely, someone has the guts on the PTC City Council to put an end to the TDK fiasco. Brownie was dead on with his assessment of the “road to catastrophe” and now Coweta says they won’t build the tragedy in waiting development unless Peachtree City gets all the traffic. Coweta doesn’t care about us. Save our future and terminate the TDK.

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Once again, the infamous mayor got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. These types of occurrences have become almost common with him. Does it really shock anyone to know the Coweta “development from hell” is dependent upon TDK the “road to ruin” being hooked into PTC? Will it really shock anyone when Mayor Logsdon continues to push for the road even though we know it’s a fraud?

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The city council in PTC is deaf, dumb and blind when it comes to listening to the constituents. Coweta County says they don’t care what happens in PTC and Fayette County. Coweta County says they need TDK so they can build a huge development designed run our traffic in the ground. Why would anybody in our city still want to go ahead with TDK? The joke going around is that we need to use reverse psychology and tell Mayor Harold Logsdon we really want TDK, since they always do the opposite of what the people want anyway. If you see the mayor, tell him everyone wants TDK. The road idea would probably die in a week.

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Do not sit idly by and allow the rezoning of Hwy. 74 to take place without your voice being heard. Please show up to the planning meeting at City Hall on March 26 at 7 p.m. and let PTC know how you feel. Or write and/ or call our elected representatives before a decision is made. Speak up before it is too late.

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So, let me see if I have this right: Councilwoman Plunkett, who was sworn in as a councilwoman on Jan. 1, 2006, questions the validity of the survey sent to Peachtree City residents in July 2006. The results showed that the majority of the respondents disliked growth by annexation. According to The Citizen newspaper, she questioned whether the survey question on annexation was worded to guide respondents to a particular answer. I guess if you don’t like the answer, you need to question the validity. Whether you realize it or not, Ms. Plunkett, you, the other three council members and the mayor are ultimately responsible for the way this city operates, which includes how each department operates and what comes out of each department. That is one of the reasons we pay you a salary. If you felt at the time (and you certainly had plenty of time) the questions on the survey were not properly worded, why did you and the rest of the council and mayor permit the survey to be published? Your answer most likely will be that the Planning Department sent out the survey, insinuating you had no knowledge of it or its contents. No excuse, Ms. Plunkett. It is your responsibility, as well as the the rest of the council and mayor, to know. Don’t pass the buck.

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I’ve been worrying about myself. I think I’m becoming a victim. Watching all the melodrama on Anna Nicole and Brittany makes me think I either need to get some medication, shave my head or check in to rehab.

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If you want a glimpse of what “Universal Health Care” will look like under government control, just look at Walter Reed Hospital.

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Isn’t there a limit to how much soap-opera Kool-Aid the media can dish out about suffering illegal aliens? It’s always sad when children must be uprooted to follow their parents. Just as true for military kids as for those whose parents have been deported.