Peachtree City UPDATES – Week of March 21, 2011

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Welcome to Jim Penningtin, new City Manager! Plus, Crosswalk Safety reminder, Graduation Banner rules, disaster preparedness and relief, and more . . .

Welcome aboard to Jim Pennington as new City Manager
Today is Dr. Jim Pennington’s first official day on the job as the City Manager of Peachtree City. He comes to us from Hartsville, South Carolina, and has over 30 years of experience as a professional City Manager. Jim has served cities ranging in size from 8,000 to over 60,000 residents. He has a Masters of Public Administration from Xavier University and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. We’re starting him off with a long week because Peachtree City’s annual City Council Retreat is this Friday and Saturday.

City Council Retreat this Friday & Saturday
The Mayor and City Council will hold their annual Retreat on Friday & Saturday, March 25 & 26, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., at City Hall. The public is welcome. The agenda of items for discussion is still being finalized with the new City Manager, but should be available later in the week.

The Fred announces Bryan Adams for August 5
Individual tickets for the Bryan Adams show go on sale this Friday, March 29, at 9:00 a.m. at the Fred Box Office and www.TicketAlternative.com . Series tickets are still available – get all six shows for one great price. Kenny G Heart and Soul on April 30, Creedence Clearwater Revisited on May 14, Jo Dee Messina with Jimmy Wayne on June 18, Kool & The Gang on July 16, and 10,000 Maniacs and Edwin McCain on August 20.

Safety Reminder – Crosswalks
With 90 miles of paths, Peachtree City has a lot of striped cross-walks that may not be at a typical intersection. Path users should STOP and look before proceeding into a crosswalk, and wait if a car is approaching. Once a path user (pedestrian, bicycle, or cart) is in the crossing, cars should slow and yield right-of-way to the user in the crossing. No carts on Highway Crosswalks – motorized carts are prohibited from crossing the State Highways in Peachtree City except in tunnels or on bridges (the crossing at Publix on the east side of town is enforced by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, which we understand allows carts to cross at that location). Low Speed Vehicles can cross State Highways in the regular traffic lane if they are on streets with a speed limit of 35 mph or less (both sides of the highway).

Graduation Banners – Rules Reminder
Graduation banners may displayed between May 15 and June 15. Banners may NOT be hung from trees or block any street signs, subdivision entry names, or a clear view to the adjoining streets. Nothing may be attached to the sign/banner (balloons, streamers etc). Any banners that are not removed by the morning of June 16 will be removed by Code Enforcement and will be subject to the $100 sign recovery fee.

Georgia Work Ready Assessment – Free Gas Card Offer
Fayette County adult residents (employed and unemployed) who are not high school students can earn a free gas card (while supplies last) under the Georgia Work Ready program through Southern Crescent Tech. Assessment dates this week at the LaFayette Education Center in Fayetteville. Learn more at www.gaworkready.org or call 770-228-7364.

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Relief
While the City does not endorse any particular organization, there are several collecting for Japan. Following last week’s listing, several residents emailed information on other agencies providing relief efforts.

Samaritan’s Purse – www.samaritanspurse.org
United Methodist Committee on Relief – www.umcor.org
Japan-America Society of Georgia – www.jasgeorgia.org (this link was provided by the Peachtree City Japanese-American Friendship Society)

Salvation Army – www.salvationarmyusa.org
Red Cross – www.redcross.org
Doctors Without Borders – www.doctorswithoutborders.org
Save the Children – www.savethechildren.org
World Vision – www.worldvision.org
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation – www.searchdogfoundation.org

Are you ready if disaster strikes HERE?

Severe Weather Preparedness: Fayette County Emergency Management encourages all residents to visit http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=27860137 to learn more about preparing for the types of disasters that can hit our area.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT): The PTC Police Department is hosting a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class beginning Thursday, April 14. Classes will be held Thursdays for 10 weeks from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The CERT program provides an excellent opportunity to learn about how to prepare yourself and your family for hazards that may affect our community. Candidates must be at least 18 years old and residents of Georgia. There is no charge to attend the class; however, class size will be limited to 22 participants. Applications are available at www.peachtree-city.org/CERT and are due by April 7.

Project Updates:

Lake McIntosh Burning – Fayette County has advised that the contractor will begin burning this week through April 30, conditions permitting. Any remaining burning will resume October 1 when the state outdoor burning ban is lifted. Fayette County indicates the type of burning they are doing, which is on the Coweta County portion of the property, should not create problems with smoke. Residents who do have complaints about smoke should contact the Fayette County Water System at 770-461-1146 or water@fayettecountyga.gov .

Fire Hydrant Clearing, Cleaning, Repainting – The Peachtree City Fire Department is repainting the 2151 public fire hydrants throughout Peachtree City through April. The hydrants will be painted with a reflective silver body. Hydrant caps will be color-coded to indicate the water pressure at each location. Reminder: Fire hydrants are located in the City-owned right-of-way. No landscaping should be placed between the hydrant and the street, within 10 feet of either side of the hydrant, or within three feet behind the hydrant.

Path Connection to K-MART closed for reconstruction – Path #803 behind K-Mart at Braelinn Village Shopping Center is still under construction and will be closed when crews are working. Path users can still access the shopping center via other connections behind the center.

Path #1148 to J.C.Booth Middle School is COMPLETE!

Rite Aid /Whitlock Ellis entrance from Peachtree Parkway will have intermittent CLOSURES during construction of the Walgreens at Highway 54 and Peachtree Parkway. Access from Highway 54 will remain open. Path access via the Walgreens site remains closed.

Don’t Forget . . .

Fayette County Commission Regular Meeting – Thursday, March 24, 7:00 p.m., in the Commission Chambers at 140 Stonewall Avenue, Suite 100, in Fayetteville. Commission agendas are posted at www.fayettecountyga.gov/administration/BOC/county_commission_meetings.htm.

Crabapple Elementary Redbird Run 5 K – Saturday, March 26, at Crabapple Lane Elementary School. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., race/walk begins at 8:15 a.m. For more information, visit http://216.77.96.35/schoolhp/crabapple/pto_redbird%20run.htm.

Breast Cancer Survivors Walk – Saturday, March 26, 8:00 a.m., at Picnic Park. For more information or to participate, visit http://bc1daywalk.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=449710.