There are a number of challenges the Peachtree City’s City Council has to face in the coming months from the 2011 millage: Whether to budget $150,000 for the Development Authority, whether to annex 70-plus acres of land to our south to allow an industrial complex, the westside annexation, and the Walgreens on Ga. Highway 54, to name just a few.
It would be a challenge for any administration.
From my observations over the summer months, there are differing opinions among council on many of these issues. Right now we don’t know where we stand with the millage with a 2-2-1 stalemate. We are at a 3-2 division with respect to a budget for the DAPC. Annexing land to our south to allow for the industrial complex in lieu of the current plan could also prove to be controversial.
Disagreement is not always a bad thing. Usually the best solutions come about when differing opinions keep an open mind and cooperate.
I see a lot of differing opinions lately, but not a lot of open-mindedness and cooperation.
The most important factor is doing what is best for the city and its future. Cooperation cannot be achieved if all parties cross their arms and pontificate about how they know best and if you disagree then you obviously are misinformed, ignorant of the facts, or just plain wrong.
Take the millage rate debate. Whether you believe a 0.5 mill increase is the way to go or a 1.25 mill increase is a more effective solution, the debate is not about whether you want to raise taxes or not.
No one wants to have to raise taxes. If it must be done, however, let us talk about the facts surrounding each option. Leave egos, campaign promises, and politics out of it and come up with a solution that will balance the needs and expectations of our citizens both now and five years from now.
Whether to budget $150,000 for the DAPC is another hot topic right now. No one disagrees that we need to invest in on our economic development and attract more businesses to promote a more solid foundation for our future. The question seems to be not the WHAT but the HOW.
Some feel that by giving $150K to an openly dedicated volunteer organization like DAPC is the best path. Others feel that hiring a city economic development director to oversee and assist our current DAPC is a better path. All want to accomplish the same goal, just differently.
Instead of grandstanding, each council member needs to focus on blending their ideas in a cooperative manner so that a solution can be reached. Stop debating the WHAT and focus on the HOW.
As far as Low Temp coming to our south side in lieu of competitive retail, I doubt many would disagree with looking into any alternative to the current Southern Pines Plantation retail project.
I want Mike and C’s in PTC to thrive just as much as anyone. We certainly do not need more retail competing with Mike as is currently planned.
However, if we choose to annex, we need to be doing so for the right reasons for the entire city. We cannot annex 70 acres just to avoid retail at our borders. We will always have borders.
We need to cooperate and facilitate good relations with the county to make sure what is built both in our city and at our borders benefits everyone. We also need to be sure that with our 2012 comprehensive plan update that we include potential annexations, if any.
That way we can be sure that our planned community continues to be PLANNED and we end up with city limits that are deliberate and make sense for the long run.
The point is that we need more cooperation among council members in the coming months. There is never only one way to do anything. Please find a way to do what is in the best interests of our citizens and PTC and check politics and egos at the door.
It is not about being right; it is about doing right.
Beth Pullias
Peachtree City, Ga.
