What a difference a day makes! In one Council meeting, we have adopted several new directions for Peachtree City that are important to each and every one of us, so I’d like to share a few of our many plans.
While hundreds of our citizens enjoy The Gathering Place offerings, we also have a need for something more. With a full one-third of PTC citizens now age 50 or older, the need for services and facilities geared toward this age group is inevitably going to increase.
In 2012 we will begin contracting with Fayette Senior Services for operations in two places, The Gathering Place and what is now the Recreation Administration Building.
We will keep the recreation programming that we know and love; we will also introduce referral, transportation, Meals on Wheels, and other services to PTC citizens. Perhaps best of all, we will welcome bistro food compliments of the famous Chef Donnie!
We may see the bridge players and some additional activities move into the Rec Admin building where they can enjoy plentiful parking, easy access, and nice restroom facilities in a semi-permanent location. This frees up the Annex for an expansion of our CVB and Welcome Center.
Instead of adding 3,700 square feet of space at The Gathering Place at a cost of $850,000, this will give us 4,200 square feet of space for the cost of minor renovations. I look forward to a series of citizen meetings early next year as we get underway.
This week, both the Peachtree City Planning Commission and City Council have breathed new life into improving what we thought would be a disastrous site plan at Line Creek West. Both groups have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding that will cede the two roads; protect the neighbors; call for a cohesive, aesthetically pleasing design; connect the new development with the Shops at McDuff; and embrace enhancements that only the Southern Conservation Trust could dream up!
In these tough economic times, it sure will be nice to see something new go in, a few dozen jobs created, and a sign of prosperity we can all appreciate.
Speaking of economic development, we will say a sad goodbye to Mr. Brandt Herndon of the Fayette County Development Authority, and welcome once again Mr. Matt Forshee to the job.
I also want to personally thank the volunteers on the Development Authority of Peachtree City, who have dedicated their spare time to serving our city. Our new direction will be focused on FCDA for bonds, and a staff-led effort to recruit small businesses and support retail.
Every PTC citizen owes Ms. Sherri Smith Brown, Mr. Mike Murtaugh, Mr. David Conner, Mr. Dan Adams, Mr. Mark Hollums, Mr. Jay Herzog, and especially Chairman Todd Strickland, a debt of gratitude. We need more citizens like these.
As I write this, it is a blue-sky autumn day in Georgia. Out my front door is a strong, vibrant, prosperous city of 36,000 connected citizens who enjoy parks, sports, playgrounds, golf carts, city celebrations, and the lowest crime rate around. I live in the best city in the nation, where it is my privilege to serve.
Today, just for one moment, please stop whatever it is you are doing, look up, and count a few blessings. We’re all in this together. We all played a role in getting here, and we will all play a role in whatever comes next. We are so very fortunate.
Happy Thanksgiving, indeed.
Kim Learnard
City Council Post 3
Peachtree City, Ga.
