Town cutting more costs

Tyrone’s cost-cutting measures continued Thursday night as the town voted to cut off the lights at Triangle Park. Finance Director Mary Sturm told the Town Council that about $3,000 could be saved annually be making the park dark,

The town of Tyrone has a new weapon in its crime-fighting arsenal that fits perfectly into the police department’s community policing program. It might not be a pursuit vehicle, but the newly outfitted golf cart is already stimulating interactions with residents. Chief Brandon Perkins expects the new patrol unit might contribute to Tyrone’s already falling crime rate.

It is about that time of the year again. The 32nd time, in fact. Tyrone’s 32nd Annual Founder’s Day Festival is set for Sept. 18-20 and is looking to provide something for everyone in the family.

Tyrone Planning Commission got a look at a new proposal Thursday, but it was not from a developer. Fayette County Planning & Zoning Director Pete Frisina presented an idea that would combine the efforts of the town and county to eventually adopt two new zoning districts to address future development along the Ga. Highway 74 North corridor between Sandy Creek Road and the Fairburn/Fulton County line.

The Tyrone Town Council got a huge dose of reality Thursday night.

“We’re broke,”said Finance Director Mary Sturm.

Tyrone Planning Commission several months ago began the arduous task of going through the town’s previously approved Comprehensive Plan page by page to determine what changes might be needed. Those efforts continued at the Aug. 14 work session. Making their way through little more than a dozen pages of the voluminous document, commissioners’ only differences of opinion came on topics such as density and sewer.

It was almost over before it started. Tyrone Town Council Thursday held what was likely one of its shortest meeting in recent memory when council members adopted a 2008 rollback millage rate of 2.889 mills that neutralized any net tax increase for property owners.

Tyrone police are still following up on leads stemming from the report of a Decatur woman last weekend that she had been abducted by two men in Decatur and driven to an isolated area in Tyrone where she was raped. The woman said she escaped and made her way to a nearby residence for help.

The Tyrone Town Council effectively decided Thursday night that a new police station would not be built anytime soon.

Peachtree City officials have confirmed that Police Sgt. Odilia Bergh was the subject of an investigation into whether she conducted “private business while on duty,” according to a city letter on the matter authored by City Manager Bernie McMullen.

Tyrone resident and business owner Dick Shelley filed a written complaint with Tyrone Police July 22, asking for an investigation of “Tyrone’s administrative offices for malfeasance in misappropriating public funds and other unlawful acts.“ Mayor Don Rehwaldt confirmed that the investigation has begun.

Residents should prepare for a long evening at Thursday night's Town Council meeting. Included on the agenda is discussion of a community sewer ordinance along with the elimination of impact fees for public safety, library and recreation projects.

By Rich Lamance
Special to The Citizen

For most college students taking the summer off between their sophomore and junior years, life is usually filled with a summer job, time at the beach or a little extra time in front of their favorite video game.

Tyrone Town Council approved a new employee health insurance package at a called Wednesday night. Called into question over premium costs during recent budget talks, the new Aetna policy with better overall coverage significantly decreases the cost to taxpayers.

Rolando Castro left the Tyrone Town Council chambers Thursday night with his hopes to build a dream home derailed.

The Town Council unanimously rejected tow variance requests by Castro to build a home on a 2.19-acre site on Coastline Road, near the CSX railroad tracks.

Helping those in need. That is the business and the mission that ServiceMaster holds dear and is the reason Tyrone franchise owner Jorge Valdes and three local managers traveled to Iowa in June to help with efforts combatting the damage caused by record floods.

The following arrests were made by Tyrone Police between July 10-16. those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The following arrests were made by Tyrone Police between June 12-July 2. Those arrested are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Like the song says, one thing leads to another. That was the case June 26 when what began as a trip to Tyrone Police Department to pay a fine led to the discovery of a stolen vehicle and rifle and a charge marijuana possession.

It came as a short announcement that packs a big punch for Tyrone residents. Judy Jefferson at the Thursday town council meeting told the audience that Home Depot agreed to a $5,000 grant to help restore the picnic area at Shamrock Park on Senoia Road.

Tyrone’s budget was approval by unanimous vote Thursday night, with a $177,920 shortfall expected to be made up by measures currently under discussion or by transferring money from reserve accounts.

A months-long setback variance request on a 2.192-acre residential lot along Coastline Road in Tyrone finally made it through the first part of the approval process June 26 when Planning Commission members voted to recommend it to the town council. The request will go before the council in July.

Tyrone’s 2008-2009 budget moved closer to approval June 19 with council members whittling down expenses that leaves them with just under $200,000 to account for before the June 26 vote to adopt the budget. Even that amount can be successfully dealt with by using reserve funds in balancing the $3.1 million budget, according to town Finance/Human Resources Director Mary Sturm.

It has long been predicted by many in Tyrone that an audit of the town’s books would reveal significant improprieties over the past several years by the previous town administration. But those results were not forthcoming June 19 when the council was presented with a management letter from auditor Post & Associates that showed few problems.

It was over quickly for long-time Tyrone Town Clerk Valerie Caldwell June 10 when an executive, or closed, session by the town council resulted in a unanimous vote to terminate her employment. Though no specifics were given, Mayor Don Rehwaldt after the meeting cited concerns by the mayor, council and town manager over job-related issues. Some in Tyrone have long-predicted Caldwell’s termination. It came Tuesday night but, in doing so a portion of the proceeding violated Georgia law.

Cuts to expenditures from the proposed 2008-2009 Tyrone General Fund budget at the June 10 work session totaled $270,389. Council members started the meeting with $739,475 in proposed expenditures over revenues for the budget that begins July 1. Though the revenue side of the budget was not discussed at the meeting, a line item for “Funds Carried Forward” for the 2007-2008 budget and totaling $490,626 was left blank in the projected revenue budget for 2008-2009. The council will meet again June 19.

The following arrests were made by Tyrone Police between May 22 and June 4. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A fundraiser for Sharpsburg resident Abby Hirsch Phillips will be held Saturday, June 14 at the Tyrone Depot located at 847 Senoia Road. Related to a recent cancer diagnosis, the fundraiser will feature a spaghetti dinner beginning at 5:30 p.m. Live entertainment by Second Time Around will begin at 8 p.m. and continue until midnight.

Tyrone’s Town Council continued the arduous process Wednesday night of trying to find areas to cut in next year’s budget.

Footage from a security camera, and a sharp memory, helped nab two Fayette men accused of burglarizing Earnest Meat Market on Tyrone Road before 9 p.m. Monday night, deputies said.