Rob

Alexander learned what life was like on the other side of

the podium Tuesday.

Alexander

started his career as a journalist in Newnan 20 years ago

and returned to the Coweta County Commission chambers

Tuesday.

This time,

Alexander was representing the recently created Georgia

Regional Transportation Authority and trying to convince

the commissioners that the organization isn't all bad.

But the

appeal fell on deaf ears as the commissioners grilled

Alexander on GRTA's intentions. Last week, the county

received a letter from the agency that it intended to

activate jurisdiction over Coweta County.

The agency

was created by Gov. Roy Barnes to deal with the Atlanta

region's air quality and traffic problems. In its second

year, the agency is now flexing its political muscles and

is requesting land use maps from the 13 counties in the

area identified by the federal Environmental Protection

Agency as falling short of clean air standards.

"It

just doesn't sit well with local governments when you

send out the type of letter you did," said

Commissioner Jim McGuffey.

Alexander

said the agency wasn't going to send black helicopters

into the county, but wanted to have a good dialogue with

the commissioners to reach a consensus.

"We

hope to be a partner, not a threat," he added.

The

commissioners said GRTA was being up front in its efforts

to control local governments.

"It's

a direct threat to local governments," McGuffey

said.

Alexander

said the agency has legal authority to try and shape up

the region's air quality, but wants everybody to work

together on finding a common solution.

The

commissioners have until July 5 to respond to GRTA's

jurisdiction effort. GRTA is meeting July 12 and is

expected to enact the jurisdiction then.