It talks about how if we

don't annex, then the west side of Peachtree City will be

the "other side of the tracks." It is also my

contention that the slide show concludes that we have got

to get those impact fees because we will be stuck with

providing service for the west side anyway. That remains

to be seen.

The financial numbers we've

seen from the Monday, May 22, 2000 annexation task force

committee meeting as listed in the May 26, 2000 Peachtree

Citizen Review show that for plans A through D a budget

shortfall will exist for all but plan A. I will admit

that these numbers will be key in any decision to

implement the annexation dream. City staff tells me that

these are not the final numbers. I will most assuredly

have to look at the breakdown of the final numbers when

they are available, so as to satisfy myself on their

relevance.

We've been told that the

annexation dream and the issue of the West Side Village

are the most important challenges that the city faces.

These decisions will shape the city over the next 100

years.

We were also told (the

annexation task force) that the citizens could not vote

on annexation. Why, Mr. Editor, can't the citizen's vote

on such a critical issue? Why was it, Mr. Editor, that

the City of Tifton, Ga., was able to vote on annexation

on June 17, 1997 (copy attached)? Did the City of Tifton

have abilities beyond those of Peachtree City?

Our traffic consultants

have said that there is a lack of regional planning when

it comes to the two state highways 54 and 74. What about

the watershed protection issues and impervious surface?

Will our developer friends comply?

What about this rush to

judgment on the annexation decision? Let us not forge

ahead with a project that would be divisive and

contentious. I say let's not make any decision until

after the next election where cooler heads may prevail.

Mr. Editor, I will close

with a fitting quote (that reminds me of the annexation

subject) from that legendary AJC columnist and former

great UGA alumnus, Lewis Grizzard, "Elvis is dead

and I don't feel so good myself."

James Melvin Ewing

Peachtree City

[Editor's note: Ewing is

the former chairman of the Peachtree City Water and Sewer

Authority and has been a candidate for Peachtree City

Council.]