In regard

to what was reported as "igniting my ire," it

was not the refusal of the county to provide the Town of

Tyrone the $25,000 that was requested for improvements to

Shamrock Park. As I have stated before, I was

disappointed but not surprised at the refusal.

What

"ignited my ire" was the fact that on that

night, the agenda item in discussion was the request for

an extension to be granted by the state for the agreement

on HB489. This was presented to our council with the

explanation that the county and cities could not yet come

to an agreement on the areas of service in public works,

public safety and recreation. I was surprised because we,

the Town of Tyrone, provide these services to our

citizens. It was further explained that the level of

service that was provided by the county was the item of

dispute.

I question

the level of service in these areas. Please note, as a

Tyrone citizen, I do receive some level of service from

the county, but for Commissioner Dunn to state,

"What we do for the entire county, we do for

them," is absurd. When I dial 911, it's a Tyrone

police car that responds, not a county sheriff. I cannot

remember seeing a county maintenance vehicle clearing the

right-of-ways in Tyrone in the last 10 years. And as far

as recreation, I'll address that later in this letter.

What I do

know the county does for Tyrone, and the rest of the

municipalities, is to constantly try to "double

hit" them for items that the county dreams up. For

instance, on this same night as our meeting, we were

presented with a request by the "Keep Fayette

Beautiful" committee for additional funding. The

reason being that the [county] commissioners had

originally set this program up with a $25,000 budget last

year.

This year

when the committee went to the board and requested their

budget be increased to $50,000, the commissioners told

them to approach the municipalities for a donation of 50

cents per resident and then come back and see them. Now

the way I see it, the residents of the municipalities had

already made a contribution through their county taxes

and were being asked to contribute again.

Another one

of their ideas was to outfit the county with emergency

sirens through a grant with the state in which the county

had to come up with a portion of the funding. The county

did an assessment on how many sirens were required and

where to locate them. The county then informed each city

how many sirens would be needed in their area, and that

each siren would cost the city $410,000. However, the

unincorporated portion of the county would be paid for

from the fire tax fund which the town of Tyrone's

citizens are taxed each year.

Why are the

cities being hit with a fee for a service, while our

county taxes were going to fund this project for the

outlying areas? This was basically an assessment on the

town of Tyrone of another $5 per resident for the two

recommended sirens.

Since

Commissioner Dunn made so many false statements

concerning Shamrock Park, I think now is the time to give

him a history lesson on this piece of property. This

property was not purchased by the county, but was indeed

brought by the Town of Tyrone for the purpose of a park.

The

citizens of Tyrone and the parents involved in the Tyrone

Baseball Association and the old Tyrone Softball

Association cleared and developed a field out of a cow

pasture with their personal tractors, equipment and sweat

some 20-plus years ago. It was only when the town applied

for a state grant and found out that they couldn't

qualify alone, did they approach the county for

assistance. The county then came on board and applied for

the money.

Even though

the county was now a "partner," they remained

very silent. The money was passed on to Tyrone for the

park's development and then a second field was developed.

This field was built by the people of Tyrone with very

little assistance by the county. The county did provide

lighting for the fields and also assisted in a 50-50

funding with the town for lights for a tennis court and

basketball court. The concession stands were constructed

association.

Besides

these small improvements, the two fields that were on

that park 15 years ago, were the only ones up until two

years ago when the baseball association approached the

town and county about building another. The baseball

associations put their money into the development of this

field with the Town of Tyrone's staff overseeing the

development on behalf of the county. The county focused

all their time and resources on the development of the

park on Redwine Road.

The Town of

Tyrone owned adjacent property next to the park, and

wanted to begin some development of our own because of

the lack of assistance from the county. We wanted to use

our money, but no longer use it to develop the county's

property.

When the

county approached the town and offered the ownership of

the park to Tyrone, the town accepted it with a few

stipulations made to the county. The largest was the

bringing the park up to meet the ADA (American

Disabilities Act) Standards. This act is approaching its

ninth anniversary and seven years after its enactment the

park had not been accommodated. The expense was going to

be made by the county eventually.

The issue

of the funding of the recreation position for the next

five years was an offer made by the county with no

request from the town. Last year, the position was vacant

for approximately six months and the county was not

billed for this salary during that time. This position

was only part-time. So to correct Commissioner Dunn's

gross misrepresentation, the town did not ask for the

park back but it was offered by the county.

When the

town did regain control of the park, improvements began

immediately. We constructed a walking path that encircled

the entire property. The cost of this path was funded by

the town with no assistance from the county. When we

requested the county to assist with the asphalt for this

half-mile project, we were denied.

If not for

the gracious help of Peachtree City, the town would have

expended a much greater amount of funds for this project.

This path is constantly being used by the residents of

Tyrone and the people in the surrounding portion of the

county.

The $70,000

that Commissioner Dunn stated was used for lighting at

Shamrock Park was also an error on his part. This money

was used for lighting two softball fields at Redwine

Community Park in Tyrone. This is another park that is

being developed by the people of Tyrone. Six years ago, I

personally asked the county recreation committee for the

donation of truckloads of fill dirt to solve a 24-foot

drop in elevation, only to be denied. Again, the county

was focusing their resources on the fields at McCurry

Park. I feel that the only reason the town got the money

for the lights at Redwine Community Park was because it

was an election year for some former members of the

commission.

As for

Commissioner Dunn's statement that the county provides

space for our prisoners for free, he needs to know that

Tyrone has paid almost $9,000 for "jail fees"

Aug. 15, 1998, to June 29, 1999. He also needs to know

that part of the funding of that line in his budget comes

from the citizens of Tax District 3 (that's Tyrone,

Commissioner Dunn).

In regard

to Commissioner Dunn's "disappointment" that I

had chosen to air my feelings in a public forum without

discussing them with the county first, well, Mr. Dunn, I

did discuss this with some members of the commission on

the night we sat down for our face-to-face meeting at the

Olde Mill Restaurant. In fact, [county administrator

Bill] Beckett sat to my left and [Commissioner Glen] Gosa

to my right and [Commissioner Herb] Frady across from me

at the table.

But I do

remember you and other commissioners speaking in the

press about our idea of bringing sewer service from

Fairburn as being "irresponsible" without any

prior discussion of exactly what our plans were, with any

member of the Tyrone Council or staff.

Another

thing, I will not ask for yours or any other person's

permission to speak on a matter of business that I feel

is in the best interest for the town of Tyrone. I'm tired

of sitting back and waiting for you to give us your

blessings to receive what is rightfully ours if we just

behave.

As a

34-year resident of this county, I have to say that I'm

very proud of the progress the county has made. I also

want to state that the problem of decreasing levels of

service by the county is not something that has just been

created by this board of commissioners. I have watched it

decline in the 22 years I've been in Tyrone and it's time

for it to stop. HB489 was designed to do just that.

We

shouldn't be asking for an extension, but realize who

provides our services and where our taxes are being

spent. I know that the county provides some level of

service, but don't try to convince others and myself that

those of us who live in the cities receive equal service

for our dollars from the county. I know that the county

has sent a directive to their finance department to show

the figures to prove I'm wrong in my accusations. And I

know that if you give an accountant nine weeks, he can

make the figures look as though we in Tyrone are living

free off the county and their departments. But I know the

truth. I see the truth.

I ask the

commissioners to look at the "levels of

service" issue and realize how the citizens in the

municipalities are being shorted. I want them to look at

these issues as someone who lives in the cities. I

realize that most of the commissioners reside in the

unincorporated portion of the county and can't really

understand our positions on these issues. Don't rely on

information that is passed on to you that is incorrect.

As you can see, Commissioner Dunn was misled on the

history of Shamrock Park. I know that he had to be

"given" this information, because he has only

been in this county for about eight years and he had no

way of knowing the history.

Please

remember! The citizens of the municipalities are your

constituents also. The figures that were presented to the

county by the Town of Tyrone were based on a very simple

formula. Take the county's budget. Divide by the county

population. Multiply by the population of Tyrone. Equal

amounts spent on everyone in the county. It didn't take

nine weeks to come up with figures.

Ronnie

Cannon

Tyrone Town Councilman

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