In Peachtree

City, two recent acts of vandalism will cost taxpayers a significant amount

of money, according to city officials.

The spotlights

for the flags and VFW monument at City Hall Plaza were recently damaged,

and the cost of replacing them is over $1,200, said city Public Information

Specialist Betsy Tyler.

Also, a water

fountain has been damaged at the Braelinn Ponds near Crosstown Road. Although

attempts to repair it were made, it must also be replaced, at an estimated

cost between $800 and $1,000, Tyler said.

That fountain

had been donated by the Peachtree City Running Club, Tyler noted.

Due to the

high cost of vandalism, the city plans to prosecute offenders to offset

the cost of repairs, Tyler said. If the repair cost exceeds $1,000, offenders

can be prosecuted as felons, she added.

The city is

asking parents to remind their children of the possible consequences for

acts of vandalism and that repairs are paid for by taxpayers.

Already, the

city uses washable paint in some of its largest cart path tunnels so graffiti

can be washed away, Tyler said. But sometimes the graffiti is actually

painted on the path, which is more difficult to clean up, she added.

"It can

crop up anywhere, even on people's fences, on dumpsters and other private

property that we can't fix," Tyler said.

Local residents

are quick to report graffiti and other problems to city hall or the public

works department, Tyler noted. Especially if it's on the cart path system,

which is the most-used element of the city, she said.

"They

like it for the natural beauty, not the graffiti," Tyler said. "People

are very observant about things."

Litter on the

cart paths is another problem the city constantly has, Tyler noted. Fast-food

packaging and drink cups are problems in certain areas due to accidents

or carelessness, Tyler said.

And some fast

food restaurants have begun cleaning up the paths in their area just for

that reason, she added.

Also, city

crews spend one whole day a week working on litter in the city, Tyler

said.

The good news

is that vandalism appears to be down in local parks since the city hired

a parks monitor to inspect those areas, Tyler said.