Fulton County

and Fairburn officials are still trying to work out the details of who

will pay for operation of Fairburn's Duncan Park.

The matter

created controversy earlier this summer when the option of closing the

park was discussed between the two South Fulton governments.

The two sides

are trying to conduct a joint meeting on the issue, but Fairburn City

Clerk Nancy Faulkner said officials haven't been able to agree on a date

yet.

The problem

started when U.S. Census figures released earlier this year pegged Fairburn's

population at over 5,000. Earlier, Fairburn had annexed the park into

the city limits and Fulton County Commissioner Bill Edwards said a law

requires that a municipality must start paying for a facility when it

reaches 5,000 population.

"I've

put more than $1 million into that park. I can't do any more. It's their

park," he said.

Edwards noted

that other Fulton County cities, such as Union City, have started paying

operating costs for parks after they have annexed them, and now it's Fairburn's

time to start paying the costs.

But the problem

is that yearly operating costs are more than $500,000 and Fairburn doesn't

collect that much in tax revenue.

Edwards said

Fairburn Mayor Betty Hannah told him the city would have to close down

the park because it has no money to operate it.

But Edwards

suggested the town impose a recreational tax on the citizens to pay for

the park.

"I'd be

willing to help them pay for it until their tax collection starts rolling

in," he said.

Edwards said

he's willing to meet with Hannah and the citizens of Fairburn to discuss

the issue, but has not heard back from the mayor.

Edwards said

he believes the issue is pretty simple. "If you can't afford to pay

for the services, don't annex the property," he said.

Fairburn officials

are maintaining that the law does not require them to pay for the park

and both sides' attorneys are offering different interpretations of the

law.

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