A check of

your records would show that Fayette County has always

planned and executed its projects on a timely basis. Our

FY 2001 and FY 2002 projects have been properly planned

and budgeted. In fact, some projects have already been

completed.

Barring any

unforeseen, extraordinary occurrences which would cause

us to direct these local funds to issues of higher

priority, it is clearly our intention to ensure all of FY

2001 and FY 2002 projects are completed as scheduled. It

is difficult to imagine anything which would alter our

transportation priorities. However, rather than blindly

committing to "...develop innovative funding

mechanisms...," we feel it is appropriate for the

Board of Commissioners to reserve its right to alter our

priorities and divert local resources, if or when it

should ever become necessary to do so in order to provide

for the health, safety and welfare of Fayette County

citizens.

We hope

that all other metropolitan area jurisdictions will make

as strong a commitment as has Fayette County in order

that our fair share of funding can be released by the

U.S. DOT.

We look

forward to working closely with the Atlanta Regional

Commission to complete these critical projects. Our staff

will be in contact with you to address the apparent

inconsistencies your document lists for our share of

funding of specific projects.

Sincerely,

Fayette County Commission

Harold Bost, Chairman

Catherine

L. Ross

Executive Director

Georgia Regional Transportation Authority

Dear Ms.

Ross:

The Fayette

County Board of Commissioners has reviewed your letter

and resolution dated May 22, 2000. We understand that on

July 12, 2000, your appointed board intends to place the

elected government of Fayette County under your

"jurisdiction."

Although

your letter indicates you will consider comments or

evidence from us, we also note that we must prove that

the county "...neither has nor contributes to excess

levels as established by the Authority..." By

placing us in a position to have to "prove the

negative," you indicate that our input would be

useless. If we admit to having even one automobile in

Fayette County, we would be "contributing to excess

levels."

On the

other hand, you have never proven to us that your

determination that we are in a non-attainment area is

based on irrefutable science or even that it is within

the authority of the United States Environmental

Protection Agency to dictate. Furthermore, you have no

evidence which would indicate that actions you propose

will have any effect whatsoever on the non-attainment

status of the Atlanta Region. Your solutions may possibly

make the problem worse. Perhaps even more troublesome is

that you have never established that Fayette County has

been negligent in any way of even that we are a major

contributor to the region's problems. Our only

"offense" seems to be that, despite the fact

that our superior planning and execution has created the

best qualify of life of the 159 counties in Georgia,

Fayette County is located too close to Atlanta. Certainly

our low-density, environmentally conscious county has not

caused Atlanta's problems.

Attached

are our responses to the letters the Atlanta Regional

Commission sent us at your urging. We clearly commit to

fund our share of the FY 2001 and FY 2002 [Transportation

Improvement Program] and pledge to continue our record as

responsible, cooperative, and effective regional

planners. However, we will never agree that our elected

governments are under the jurisdiction of an appointed

board. To do so would equate to us transferring to you

the responsibilities and authorities bestowed upon us by

our citizens.

We

sincerely hope that preserving the rights of our citizens

and the authority vested by them in their elected

government will not be considered to be

"non-cooperative," but rather will cause you to

review your policies and procedures. We would assume that

you are just as concerned about the rights and freedoms

of our citizens as are we, and would urge extreme caution

as you proceed.

Sincerely,

Fayette County Commission

Harold Bost, Chairman

Mr.

Charles Krautler

Executive Director

Atlanta Regional Commission

Fayette

County has been and will continue to be an active and

responsible participant in the regional planning process.

In a letter to you dated June 19, we have committed to

provide the local matching funds to complete our FY 2001

and 2002 Transportation Improvement Program projects as

scheduled. We have always completed and submitted our

plans and reviews to you as requested and will continue

to do so.

We

understand the Federal Highway Administration and Federal

Transit Administration have expressed concerns with the

Regional Transportation Plan and TIP. We further

understand from the Georgia Regional Transportation

Authority Resolution dated May 10, 2000, that you are

under considerable pressure from GRTA to have Atlanta

Regional Commission members "address the federal

government's concerns."

After a

thorough review of your proposed Land Use Strategy and

public discussion of it at our Board of County

Commissioners' meeting on June 8, 2000, we must

regretfully inform you that we cannot allow Fayette

County to be bound by the provisions of your proposed

Land Use Strategy. It would clearly allow the ARC and

GRTA to determine land use and direct growth and density

issues in the proposed Commuter Rail Corridor, as well as

any other areas you may designate in the future, such as

town centers, activity centers, watersheds, airport noise

areas, etc.

The members

of the Fayette County Board of Commissioners were each

elected by the entire citizenry throughout Fayette

County. Through their votes our citizens endowed us with

the responsibility and authority to make land use

decisions and manage growth within our county. We are

sure you would agree that Fayette County has planned and

managed growth well. Considering variables used to

measure quality of life we consistently rank at or near

the top among all counties in Georgia. We cannot and will

not ever willingly transfer the responsibility and

authority given to us by our citizens, to appointed

officials in the ARC and/or GRTA. We and we alone must

exercise the authority vested in us by our citizens.

We are

aware that enabling legislation for GRTA included

provisions to "punish" counties for failing to

cooperate. Hopefully, elected officials standing firmly

behind democratic principles and their belief in

"home rule" will not be construed by ARC/GRTA

appointees to be a lack of cooperation but rather will

cause a reassessment of your proposals. In response to

federal pressure, some officials in Georgia have,

hopefully inadvertently, initiated a process that would,

in the long run, be much worse than the problems it

purportedly would solve.

We will

continue to be a responsive and responsible planning

partner as we have been since joining the ARC. However,

we respectfully request that you review and change any

planning documents and programs which attempt to remove

the authority given to elected officials by the citizens

of their respective jurisdictions.

Sincerely,

Fayette County Commission

Harold Bost, Chairman