The Fayette County Development Authority (FCDA) plays a vital role in the economic well-being of Fayette County. So, it needs to be all it can be, but sadly is not.
With all the changes the FCDA really has not changed since I first took office in 2007.
It needs to be proactively seeking employers with good paying career jobs. But it is reactive only dealing with what comes to them, mainly from the State.
The Commission funds the FCDA and a few years ago cut their funding by 10 percent. That, in spite of the fact their funding is significantly lower than other counties seeking jobs.
Peachtree City, instead of increasing funding for its authority, shut them down. Then paid the FCDA $70,000 a year to hire someone to work for the benefit of the city. But all that happened was the FCDA transferred long existing responsibilities to that very person.
Fleisch, Learnard and Imker took those actions, bragged about how successful it has been, etc. But, there has actually been less new economic development than when I was mayor. And almost all of what was claimed as their success are projects that began when I was mayor. They were simply there upon completion.
While I pursued good paying career jobs, they pursued homes and retail development.
They have made no mention of any form of any city effort to recruit good paying career jobs since.
When first in office, it became clear to me some on the FCDA Board of Directors were not getting the job done for various reasons. There was a house cleaning a year or two ago. The results are not clear since there have been other issues along the way.
The FCDA president in 2007 ended up leaving for another job. Then a year or so later came back, replacing his replacement. Then he left again with his current replacement now leaving as well.
At the same time, the person hired with Peachtree City money is leaving as well.
The commission controls the funding and some aspects of their job description. The FCDA directors exercise extensive control and the president does the day to day operations and is the boss of the Peachtree City funded hire.
Councilmember Mike King was on the FCDA Board when Great Wolf came to town. He pushed the FCDA for backing and they did a very flawed study supporting the sale of Dolce … then quit when it failed.
All those issues make it difficult to say exactly with whom and where the problems reside.
On donhaddix.com there are some additional materials added that show aspects of the problems and the role of a development authority.
This all makes it very clear there has been a lack of priority for economic development, which has to change.
Why isn’t there a clear effort and understanding by those in charge as to the importance of real economic development?
Don Haddix
Peachtree City, Ga.
[Haddix is a former mayor of Peachtree City.]
