70% to be removed, 8 modified bumps will stay on cart paths —
In response to sustained public complaints, the Peachtree City Council Friday backed off the city’s 4-month move to make sections of the 100-plus miles of cart paths way more bumpy in order to cause speeding golf carts to slow down.
Eight of the bumps will be re-installed with modifications to make path life easier for bicycle riders, wheelchair users and pedestrians in general.
Here’s the white flag letter from Interim City Manager Bernie McMullen released Friday afternoon:
Friday, August 5, 2022
Re: Speed Bumps
Dear Peachtree City Residents,
On July 15, 2022, the Mayor and Council released a statement pertaining to the speed bumps on the multi-use path system along Lake Peachtree.
As stated in the letter, staff was directed to reevaluate the speed bumps along the lake and make any potential adjustments to the speed bumps as deemed necessary.
After careful review and consideration of visibility, grade, high traffic areas, and accessibility, it has been determined that eight (8) out of the twenty-six (26) speed bump locations will remain.
Additionally, while the multi-use path system does not require ADA compliance, the remaining 8 speed bump locations will be reconfigured with a gap width, to allow for wheelchair, pedestrian, and bicycle usage.
The gap width was determined by the ADA requirement for a doorway which is 32 inches wide.
This width dimension still requires golf carts to slow down since the width of most golf carts varies from 47 inches to 53 inches. The path width itself at one of these locations will need to be widened for uniformity with the other locations and to accommodate this gap requirement.
The removal process will begin immediately. We ask all residents to please be patient as the aforementioned changes are implemented.
Sincerely,
Bernard J. McMullen
Interim City Manager
Peachtree City, Ga.
Cal, what is the latest update on this in 2023?
Since Winter 2022, there have been noticeably NEW yellow markings along Lake PTC cart paths from Gretchen’s former house to Drake Field to behind bowling alley and alongside Flat Creek Rd, just to name a few. Also, there are still speed bumps that cover the path (versus proposed ADA-compliant gap in the middle) i.e. path alongside Gretchen’s former home and the one on path before the bench leading towards the dam.
Joe and the lovely Gretchen now have their house on the market. As a little going away present to their long suffering neighbors, they put up an obtrusive eye sore of a fence around their yard that may or not be per PTC code compliance. Rules for thee, not for me.
Does the listing mention the property’s close proximity to Peachtree City’s Cart Path?
Ha, house is under contract now. Edgewater subdivision celebrates. The Joe and Gretchen lawsuit show moves on to a new not so lucky locale.
Spyglass, Squirrel, and Homeland weep. They have lost one of their own.
WTF are you talking about?
I agree with CitizenAl. I feel that the increased urbanization of PTC has caused crime to rise and I don’t see this administration trying to slow it down
For all the riff raff of the last election, it really didn’t take long to see we’ve made some very big mistakes. Gretchen caused her own problem but its very disappointing our experienced mayor and other council members didn’t shut this down hard from the get go. This is all borderline illegal stuff that’s cost us money as citizens.
Think harder next time people.
Waste of money and time.
This lies far more at the feet of Learnard, Prebor and King! The trio that is raising taxes beyond inflation and turning our suburban villages into urban trouble!
It baffles me to no end that the citizens of PTC keep voting these people into office.
It was the entire problem with the last election. Decades of experience running for more time to address the same problems. And then this whole situation was a huge letdown comically dealt with, and in-kind sullied others. I’m not mad, just very disappointed in everyone.
This situation could have been handled better, for sure.
There is now a petition out there to recall Gretchen. She has certainly earned it.
Who’s in charge of this petition, and how do we sign it? Did anyone else catch her catty little whispering and note-passing to Phil Prebor at the last council meeting? How immature and unprofessional can she get?
She seems to not really have a speed bump on her highway to unprofessionalism. The petition is all over Facebook.
The recall should be on Learnard, Prebor and King! Far more destructive to PTC character than Caola.
Can’t happen soon enough.. There are several more in office that need to go as well. They have been on council too long and feel they don’t need to answer to the taxpayers any longer.
Well said, the_wing_t. The bumps, etc were a symptom, not the root cause of the problem. There was zero information on how the root cause was being addressed.
Here’s what bothers me:
1. There was no apology or ownership from Mike King about his part in trying to “keep this quiet”, as he said in the text to Caola.
2. There was no apology from Caola or her husband about treating citizens the way they did, as captured on the cell phone video, claiming to “get off, this is private property”
3. There’s no explanation as to how Caola’s were allowed to connect to a city cart path – their new driveway butts right up against the path.
4. Kim Learnard seemed dismissive, bossy, and somewhat pompous when she declared “you can say we have saved the paths” at the beginning of the meeting.
5. Still no explanation as to why speed bumps were placed on a low-use path by Caola’s house.
My opinion – this council has done nothing to earn back the trust they lost on this. All of them. There’s zero remorse for trying to sneak something through, or for trying to use the city staff to further an agenda that only serves to benefit themselves. I think all these fools need to be voted out as soon as possible. Most of all, I was really embarrased by Learnard’s attitude at the start. It was very much a “we fixed it, i’m sick of hearing about it, take your d@$n signs down” attitude. Not the attitude of someone who is serving the public.
Wing, you pretty much nailed this whole sorry Mayor and City Council situation. “Save Our Paths” signs need to be replaced now with “Save Our City” signs now. As you said, this whole City Council has no credibility or trust.
AND…Jon Rorie vanishes unscathed.
Rories been home for a minute already. What’s his role been in this?
Do your homework and you’ll find out that he was instrumental in overstaying the community action committee that was assigned last year and then he was instrumental in proposing solutions to the speeding and safety problems.
You’re exactly right. They feel as though they are above everyone else and that they shouldn’t have to answer to no one..
I’m glad some of the excessive bumps are being removed. They were truly diminishing the magic of PTC. If tax payer money was used for the installation and removal, that is a shame. I think an open forum to begin with would revealed very clearly, the fact that many voters would not appreciate the speedbumps to begin with.
White flag letter? Kind of a cheap shot, dontcha think?
It should be about what’s best for the town, not “I win you lose “.
The bumps are removed, there is a fence up, and life goes on. can we put it to rest?
Are you going to trust King, Caola, and Learnard from here on out to be honest, transparent, and accountable? Nothing about this fiasco would make me believe they will be. The damage is done, they’ve set themselves up to all be voted out next time.
Yes I am. I think its all childish. They were voted into office. If you don’t like what they are doing then vote them out. Its not like their letting criminals out on the streets like in other cities around the country.
O my! What a low standard you set!
And yes, Learnard, Prebor and King are inviting crime into our city with their urbanization an the likely increased rental this will cause. FAR more destructive than Caola! Who alone with Destadio voted against density increase!
Agreed. I think Mayor and Council, corrected the problem that they themselves created. I’m sure it’s embarrassing for them, some more than others, but I think there’s been too much over reaction. I voted for Caola, think she used poor judgement in handling this issue, but more importantly to me she’s a reliable vote AGAINST the urbanization of PTC.
I like making the paths mostly American Disability Act (ADA) compliant. Good move.
Literally, this has been my biggest issue. ADA compliance is a must and they won’t admit it, but notice how even the ones they left are compliant? I’m not sure who called them out but I appreciate they she got caught. 100% needs a recall!