Fairburn first candidate’s forum in recent memory was held Oct. 21 at Southside Theater. Sponsored by Fairburn Business Association, the event gave the 50 residents present an overview of what candidates knew about some of the current issues facing the city and what plans they had to address them.

Attending the forum were five of the seven candidates for the city’s three at-large council seats. Those present included incumbents Ron Alderman and Marian Johnson and challengers Elizabeth Hurst, Gerald Todd and Jeff Couch. Incumbent Frankie Arnold and challenger Bryan Paden did not attend.

Questions submitted in advance covered a variety of topics significant to the city, from future permitting of waste transfer stations to positions on the city’s Comprehensive Plan and from candidates’ top priorities if elected to steps needed in establishing a water reservoir and their position on term limits.

Concerning the current suit by Walker Brothers over the city’s denial of the company’s plans to construct a waste transfer station on Bohannon Road, candidates were asked how they would vote on the three options now facing the council: to keep transfer stations as a permitted use in the M-2 zoning district, to make transfer stations a conditional use or to eliminate transfer stations from the zoning ordinance. In response, Todd did not provide an answer to any of the options, adding instead that the problem should not have come up and that the city should work with Walker to resolve the problem. The other candidates each said they would vote to eliminate transfer stations from the ordinance. Couch added that the city could negotiate with Walker Brothers to settle the matter, while Hurst added that the citizens had made their voices known by stating their opposition to the transfer station and that the council had let them down.

The proposal by Walker Brothers was initially presented and approved by the city’s planning commission on the grounds that the transfer station was allowed under the city’s zoning ordinance. An outcry by citizens when the proposal came to the city council was heard by council members, who voted unanimously to deny the proposal, a vote that went against the established laws of the city. That vote led quickly to the lawsuit filed by Walker Brothers in Fulton County Superior Court. In the recent weeks the council agreed that the question of including transfer stations in the zoning ordinance would be sent to the planning commission with a recommendation that such facilities be eliminated from the ordinance.

On the question of which components of the city’s Comprehensive Plan should be implemented first, Couch suggested increasing the size of the historic district and having it included on the historic register, thereby creating more pride and ownership of the downtown area. Hurst said transportation is important and should be implemented first, citing the need for an agreement with MARTA to establish express bus service. Johnson cited the many facets of the plan, but had no comment except that she agreed with Hurst. In his response, Todd said the council should appoint aggressive and qualified people to a development board, noting that less qualified people are appointed. We need to go back to see what worked in the past in order to go forward, he said. And Alderman said the first course should be to ensure the planned commercial development along Ga. Highway 74.

Another question posed to candidates concerned their top three priorities and how those would be accomplished. Johnson said she would like to see walking trails, nature areas and other passive park measures along with maintaining and growing city fire and police services. Johnson also noted her ongoing support of the coming recreation program and the college campus slated for opening in late 2008. Todd advocated for increases in the police department and better protection for seniors and repair of city infrastructure such as sidewalks. Alderman cited the addition of shopping and dining opportunities along with those including education and recreation.

In her response, Hurst said the city needed rules and laws pertaining to how utilities are managed, saying that many people are upset over power cut-offs that sometimes require several days for power to be turned on after payment is made. Hurst also cited the need for more shops on Hwy. 74 and the need to work with Fulton County to acquire Duncan Park.

Another question dealt with Fairburn’s membership in the South Fulton Municipal Regional Water & Sewer Authority and the next steps that are needed to move the project forward. Alderman referenced the ongoing project and the need to obtain the required state and federal permits that would lead to construction of a reservoir and provide water for Fairburn, Palmetto and Union City. Couch suggested an outside group and a professional to spearhead the effort might be an option since the authority has spent millions of dollars with no result. Hurst said the project should be studied to determine where improvements can be made. Project money should be well spent, she said, adding that the city could look at installing its own wells and could investigate what other cities are doing with water issues.

Johnson reviewed the multi-year activities of the authority, including the hiring of a new engineering firm. In his remarks, Todd suggested Fairburn approach the city of Atlanta and have a back-up plan. Atlanta would be more willing to work with us if we make peace with them, he said. Wells could help but the city needs a back-up plan, he said.

The convoluted story of the authority’s history began in 2001 and, in terms of the current attempt to construct a reservoir in what later became the new city of Chattahoochee Hill Country, with the $41.7 million bond sale in 2003. Earlier in 2007, the city successfully pressed Union City and Palmetto to adopt measures put forward by Fairburn. The city’s representatives on the authority, and the city council, refused to go along with refinancing the reservoir bond unless the money saved would go toward paying the monthly principal and interest that came due beginning in July. Union City and Palmetto had wanted to take the money from refinancing to use for other project components. The two cities had no choice but to go along after Fairburn’s council refused. Fairburn also strenuously objected to spending any more money until the required permits could be obtained. The project has been held up since the beginning due to the lack of state and federal permits required to construct a reservoir for drinking water.

Another question, one on candidates’ view on term limits for elected officials, met with mixed reactions. Hurst agreed with term limits for the council, suggesting two or three terms should be the maximum. Johnson said she was not in favor of term limits, instead allowing voters to have control. Todd said he was not necessarily in favor of term limits, while Alderman said he supported a limit of three terms and Couch said he supported two or three terms. None of the candidates expressed views on term limits for the mayor.

login to post comments