Suggests SPLOST may be answer for funding
Peachtree City Councilman Mike King is set to begin a new term in office beginning in January. With that, King has several goals and objectives he hopes will come to fruition in 2016.
King said the top priority on his list of goals is to catch up with infrastructure maintenance that has been postponed due to the recession that began in 2008.
“Over the previous two years council has moved to increase cart path maintenance,” King said. “But with nearly 100 miles of paths and the ability to resurface six to nine miles annually, we’re treading water at best. This does not include the replacement of the galvanized metal tunnels that will soon require serious attention. Nor does this include any new path construction that we’d certainly like to get done.”
A part of that goal includes street paving.
“Just this year, Crosstown Road finally received a much-needed repaving that was actually paid for with remaining SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) funds, and council did allocate in its budget the funding to continue paving our streets,” said King. “But with some 62 miles of city streets in need of resurfacing, one can readily see that catching us up is a lengthy process.”
A question raised by King is how to pay for infrastructure improvements.
“Moving forward I see us having limited choices. We can certainly do nothing, but we all didn’t move here to experience deteriorating infrastructure,” said King. “We can raise the millage rate by one or two points, but this would garner us some $2 million annually, leaving us with yet another slow process that could possibly be re-prioritized by the needs of future council.
“We could enact a five-year SPLOST that would garner the city some $6-7 million annually to get this done. I have asked the mayor to approve my setting up a committee of citizens to specifically draw out a plan to bring our paths and streets to standard while looking at and prioritizing specific projects to be included. The culmination of that work would give the citizens a clear picture of what exactly their vote would approve. Granted, this effort would have to be approved by the county, but perhaps the commissioners could do the same.”
Another goal on King’s list deals with the completion of MacDuff Parkway.
“No one wants this project completed or deserves more than the folks living with only one means of egress. Progress has been made, and the city is doing everything it can to bring this to its conclusion,” King said.
Addressing another goal, King noted that the spillway repair on Lake Peachtree is complete and the dredging is nearly done.
“One could ask why this is a goal,” said King. “Specifically, using the revenue negotiated with the county over the water agreement, we can now move forward rebuilding the half-century old spillway and dam with a structure that will be compliant with the (upcoming) Category 1 standards that meet EPA (Georgia Environmental Protection Agency) and Safe Dams requirements.”
Still another goal involves changing city elections to even-numbered years. King headed the move earlier in the year, insisting that it would result in a much larger voter turnout.
“Approved (by the council) this year, hopefully it will be ultimately approved by the legislature and voters,” said King. “I simply believe that an 80 percent turnout is worth pursuing.”
King said he once had a goal of combining fire and police services into a public safety arrangement. Today, he said, that is not needed.
“If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” he said.
Beyond the goals for 2016, King said he has a number of objectives in mind.
One of those objectives would have Lake Peachtree filled, a new boat dock constructed and the trees on Snake Island trimmed and a park area or beach installed.
Also pertaining to the Lake Peachtree area, King said he supports a project being spearheaded by Mayor Vanessa Fleisch that would have a stage constructed at Drake Field.
As for the city’s potential for getting into the broadband business, King said he is “not sure yet.” He did note another possible option, one that could include a public/private venture.
Commenting on the council as an elected body, King said it is a harmonious group that looks at issues rationally.
“Two and a half years ago hardly a week went by without some type of disparaging letter to the editor being published, of less than professional conduct on the dias taking place and serving as an embarrassment to Peachtree City,” King said, again noting the change that has occurred.
