Who runs Fayette County? It’s supposed to be you; the taxpayer – citizen – voter.

I am usually an optimistic and positive person, I would much rather be telling you about things I support. But, because I believe that this commission is not doing the right things for you, I have had to become “The Opposition.”

Let me ask you this: A. Do you elect people to office so that they can delegate decisions to someone else or, B. Do you elect people so that they can step up to their responsibilities and take accountability for their decisions?

If you answered this question by saying “B,” I ask you who you think is running Fayette County now. Sometimes it doesn’t seem to be the commission.

Let’s look at some examples.

There was a major change made to the way that your commission reports to you, through the minutes of commission meetings. The most recent explanation of this change was that it was made because the new staff attorney decided that our minutes took too long to produce and that they contained more information than is legally required.

The interim administrator must have decided that the staff instructions to change those minutes did not need to be shared. I was not informed and there was no public vote.

after i made an issue of this, the commission chairman made the statement that these minutes were an improvement. He said that in the past, the former county attorney had “ordered Staff to destroy the audio recordings.”

His statement was both wrong and it was “spin.” I did check with the former county attorney to find out what he told staff regarding the audio copies of the minutes. His explanation matches with the previous knowledge I had of this topic.

First, the former county attorney knows full well that he did not have the authority to “order” staff to do anything. This is a difference that does not seem to be recognized by the current administration and (most) current commissioners.

The former county attorney explained the issue this way: he said that after the written minutes were approved by the commission, those minutes become the “official record.” The “old” minutes had a much more detailed record of who said what than the “new” minutes.

The former county attorney said that he informed staff that after the minutes were adopted, there was no need to retain and store the recordings. They could be recorded over, reusing the tapes.

There is a big difference in spin from “ordered” to “informed”; big difference in spin from “destroying” to “not retaining.”

But, I believe that this is a symptom of the way things are done now. Administration decides and lets (some?) commissioners know their decision. If that’s not true, I don’t see how some of these decisions are reached.

Where did the idea come from that Fayette County employees were underpaid? Where did the idea come from that we needed to have a defined benefit retirement program for Fayette County employees? Have you ever voted anyone into office based on their promises to do either?

I believe that at least some commissioners have, in effect, sold out the public to gain the support of the employees. They are betting again that the employees will come out and vote for them, while the regular taxpayer stays home. Are they right? The taxpayers/citizens/voters are the only ones who can decide that.

There is another matter, much more serious. I have a copy of a letter sent out by the interim head (yes, another “interim”) of your Building Department.

The letter states that he is aware that fencing has been installed and approved by permits and inspections that does not meet state standards for swimming pool barriers. He also states that, “In an effort to help the swimming pool and fencing industry,” they will CONTINUE TO ALLOW barriers which don’t meet the state standards.

He says, “as of Sept. 1, 2008, will be required to meet all code requirements ... Hopefully this adjustment period will allow swimming pool contractors and barrier/fencing contractors to deplete their inventory and not be penalized.”

State law has required the correct barriers since January of 2007! Who gave him the idea that he has the authority to violate state law and send out a letter to the contractors saying he is going to continue to do it?

What if a child drowns? What if a child is injured? Of lesser consideration, who pays when we are sued? We do!

I am told other alarming stories about this department. I am told that the department checks issues with a publicly unelected, unappointed person who is in the local home builders association!

I repeat, who runs Fayette County?

If you want to put Fayette County back into your hands, please vote in the Republican Primary on July 15th, or vote early this week.

Peter Pfeifer

Fayette County Commission, Post 3

Peachtree City, Ga.