We are fortunate to live in such a generous and caring community like Peachtree City. Each and every day I am surrounded by people in this city who have tremendous talents. The sharing of these talents makes this city the special place that it is.
Peachtree City deserves a mayor who will work to bring all of us together rather than pull us apart. We deserve a mayor who is truly a part of the community and will promote the area and its wonderful people in the positive light that they deserve. This is why I am running for mayor of Peachtree City.
Over the past three years I have had the opportunity to be a member of the Peachtree City Council. The many good things that have been accomplished for the betterment of the city have been marred and overshadowed by the discord that plays out in council meetings.
As a member of the council I have had the privilege to work with many of the people who make this city such a wonderful place to live. We are fortunate to have volunteers who serve on authorities and commissions throughout the city and their efforts are greatly appreciated.
Within the past three years, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Recreation and Special Events Advisory Board were both created. The CVB and the Recreation Board are now working together to help bring revenue to Peachtree City by bringing quality sports tournaments to our city.
Late last year I devised a plan to use our recreational facilities as an economic development tool. In order to do this, I needed to bring together groups from across the city that had not worked together before.
After a year of negotiating and consensus building, we now have the hotels, the recreation department, the CVB, and the recreation and special events advisory board working together to build an economic development tool without investing in additional infrastructure.
The hotels in the community see the potential to their bottom line in filling their hotels with patrons who are tournament participants. We can do tournaments much better because part of the revenues generated by a hotel occupancy tax rate increase will go directly towards the maintenance of our facilities. It is a win-win for the city.
Unfortunately Mayor Don Haddix was the only “no” vote on this effort to bring additional revenue to the city.
Last year our facilities were not “tournament ready.” Fields and other recreational facilities across the city had suffered from neglect. Our recreation department has worked diligently over the past year to get our facilities to the point where we are today.
The hotels have seen this progress and the work that has gone into the facilities. They wrote a letter to the mayor and council stating that they approved of the occupancy tax going from 6 to 8 percent. The hotels are ready and willing to partner with the city to move forward. Mayor Haddix still voted against it.
The framework for the future of economic development in Peachtree City is being established because of the new position that has been created with the Fayette County Development Authority. This position became a reality last year and will be a benefit to the city as we strive to retain and recruit new businesses in the city. The establishment of this position was a direct result of my meeting with the FCDA.
The relationship with Fayette Senior Services has been established, and will flourish once FSS is able to expand in the old Recreation Administration Building. Close to a third of Peachtree City’s citizens are aged 50 and above and the partnership with FSS and the services that they provide are a welcome addition to the city. This relationship was worked on by many people in the past year, including me. The mayor did not take a leadership role in this area.
Unfortunately, Mayor Don Haddix has been a major obstacle to progress in the city. The discord and dysfunction that is associated with this City Council has been a direct result of his lack of vision and leadership.
Peachtree City deserves a mayor who knows how to work with others, placing the city’s best interests first above any petty disagreement. Peachtree City deserves a mayor who is willing to lead. I am that person.
Vanessa Fleisch
Post 4, City Council
Peachtree City, Ga.
