I hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day Weekend. Several items of interest this week, including tomorrow’s City Council meeting, the Visitors’ Center relocating, and a new Golf Cart Safety Course. Also, don’t forget the Council’s Town Hall Budget Meeting next Thursday, June 10, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Tonight’s City Council Meeting – Thursday, June 3
Tonight, the Mayor and Council will meet at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. The agenda includes SANY’s request for a reduction in impact fees, a resolution opposing the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, and a new Lease Agreement with the Tourism Association (for the relocation of the Visitor’s Center to the Amphitheater offices). The NorSouth rezoning request for senior apartments on Newgate Road has been continued until June 14 by the Planning Commission, and the NCR Sign Ordinance variance request has been continued by the applicant until no later than September 2. The meeting will be streamed live at www.peachtree-city.org/videos and has the videos available for on-demand viewing. The full agenda and packet are available at www.peachtree-city.org/index.aspx?nid=193
The Peachtree City Visitors’ Center has moved
The Peachtree City Visitors’ Center, formerly located adjacent to the Tennis Center on Planterra Way, is now operating in the offices adjacent to the Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater box office at 201 McIntosh Trail. The Center is operated by the Peachtree City Tourism Association (PCTA).
Police Department launches Golf Cart Safety Course
The Peachtree City Police Department has designed a Golf Cart Safety Course to help educate young drivers on the proper use of the vehicles on Peachtree City’s paths. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, there are over 10,000 motorized cart related injuries every year that require emergency room treatment. In 2009, Peachtree City officers responded to 64 reported golf cart crashes, 31 of which involved injuries and 33 of which involved a driver 16 years of age or under. Few drivers of golf carts have gone through any formal training in operating the vehicles.
The Golf Cart Safety Program is designed for drivers age 12 to 16, but anyone may participate in the program. To complete the online portion of the course, go to www.peachtree-city.org/golfcartsafety and follow the directions. After successfully passing the quiz, students are eligible to take the practical road course (held June – August on Thursday evenings and some Saturday afternoons).
Highway 54 East Landscaping Update
Residents driving Highway 54 east from Peachtree Parkway toward Fayetteville may have noticed that many of the newly installed plants have died. The plants are under warranty, and dead shrubs & trees will be replaced when weather begins to cool. In the interim, staff has asked contractor to begin removing the dead plants now.
Golf Cart Safety Reminder – Age restrictions apply during summer, too!
With school out for the summer, we will be seeing more golf carts on the paths. Please remember that violations of Peachtree City’s age restrictions for driving golf carts can carry very steep fines for the cart owner and can impact a juvenile’s future ability to get a driver’s license.
· Under 12 – CANNOT DRIVE A GOLF CART
· Ages 12-14 – Must be accompanied in the front seat by a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian.
· Age 15 – May also drive if accompanied by a licensed driver age 18 or older.
· Age 15 with a Learner’s Permit – may also drive alone, with one other person 15 or older, or up to three immediate family members
· Age 16 and older – May drive, with or without a Drivers License (as long as they have not had their license suspended or revoked).
Also, please remember that it is both dangerous and illegal to have anyone sitting in the driver’s lap or standing on the cart when the cart is in motion.
Sinkholes
Over the past year, the City has received many calls regarding sinkholes forming in yards. This could be a result of the unusually wet year in Peachtree City or due to bury pits for construction debris. Even though bury pits were banned by the state in 1997, older pits my just now be showing signs of depressions. These areas can be properly treated by completely removing all the debris and using proper compacted backfill to fill in the excavation.
The United States Geologic Survey (USGS) has published information regarding sinkholes for the states of Missouri and Florida; however the principles would apply to Georgia sinkholes as well at http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/circ/circ1182/pdf/15WCFlorida.pdf and at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2007/3060/ .
Please contact the Engineering Department at 770-631-2538 if you have additional questions.
