Welcome to a new year and new council.
The first council meeting was a busy one. there were a couple of agenda Items, covered by The Citizen, I would like to expand upon.
As I said, in honoring Doug Sturbaum, we first met in 2007 during the interviews to fill Judy Rutherford’s unexpired term. We talked and found we shared much in common on views of Peachtree City, what needed to happen and how to get there.
Doug was a great council member. Over time we became close friends and will remain close friends. He is one of the most trustable and dependable people I have ever met in my life.
When he spoke, talking about our great city and the service of the past four years, he did become emotional. He cares deeply and works hard for what he believes in.
At one point he needed a moment to regain his composure before continuing. Being his moment, I didn’t say a word. That was when Councilwoman [Kim] Learnard made her comments.
After that Doug finished speaking. I noted as always he chose a different route than most, this time for his recognition reward. He chose books to be dedicated to the library.
To this I will add here it was not an easy four years for him. He shared the 2 status of the many 3-2 votes on important issues on council. But he did not leave office for those reasons. He simply had too many obligations elsewhere. I supported him in that decision.
Contrary to what some tried to claim, we didn’t agree on everything and didn’t vote the same every time. We did have some pretty heated disagreements on some key issues, but worked through them intellectually to a better and positive position we both supported.
He may be gone from council, but he is not gone from Peachtree City. He will remain a voice within the city for the future.
The second issue I will touch on are the police cars. What was not reported was just as important as what was.
Having already reduced the replacements from 10 to 9, per efforts by Councilman [Eric] Imker, he wanted to move the odometer mileage replacement mark to 125,000 miles. He recognized this would result in increased maintenance costs.
As was pointed out when Councilman Imker brought this up in the past, you cannot go by odometer miles. You have to go by engine miles. With police vehicles idling 60 percent or more of the time, you’re actually looking at vehicles with at least 186,000 miles or greater. You do not have to be moving to put wear and tear on an engine. I add here stop and go driving miles also causes more engine wear and tear than highway miles.
So, it is not simply setting an arbitrary odometer reading. Odometer, repair records and other issues are considered in the formula for when to replace.
Councilman Imker then noted the Police Department fleet had 89 vehicles. He proposed eliminating 50 as not needed to be just sitting there in reserve.
I asked Chief Clark of those 89 vehicles how many were in assigned service to paid officers, Auxiliary Police, Code Enforcement and the rest. His response was 86 are in assigned use and 3 were in emergency reserve. There are no vehicles just sitting there.
I note these things because we have had emails, seen letters to the editor, and more, about too many police cars and thinking that the Police Department just wants new cars all the time. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Moving on, now sworn in, welcome, George Dienhart, to council. He handled his first meeting quite well.
Finally, a very interesting and challenging year lies ahead. There are County Commission elections, national elections, the TSPLOST referendum vote, LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) negotiations, the 2013 budget process and more. All critical and all controversial.
Or will it matter? After all, this is 2012 when the Inca calendar ends.
Don Haddix, mayor
Peachtree City, Ga.
