The county's former finance

director put out a document (FC-REV-2), of which I have a copy, shows,

for example, that Peachtree City provided revenue to the county of $9,029,648.

The other document (FC-EXP-2), of which I have a copy, shows, for example,

that the county only spent $8,068,812 on services to Peachtree City. How

weird is that?

Next thing you know is that

the former county finance guru resigns to go and work for GRTA. However,

that was OK with the "fun-bunch." One commissioner even stated

(The Citizen, 6/20/01) that "there are some philosophical differences

in the way you used to do things and the way some of us want to."

This is their own guy. Ha, Ha.

It just seems obvious to me

that there has just got to be some professional expert that the county

and the cities could agree on (say, at UGA or Georgia State). They could

do the analysis and the parties could just agree to accept the results

(whatever they are). The financial professionals at the universities might

even do it for free. It just seems, O, so simple to me.

Let's look at the town of Tyrone

and their sewer extension. The "fun-bunch" loses round one.

The county is hoping by filing suit in the county court that they can

get a similar ruling as with the Chariots of Fire decision (The Citizen,

9/27/00). They believe that the county has the right to control sewage

flow inside its borders.

Here's what they haven't considered.

Tyrone doesn't want spray irrigation. You can't just put a plug at the

end of the pipe. Fayette County has taken the position that they are not

remotely interested in going into the sewer business. Isn't it true that

unlike the Chariots of Fire ministry, a town such as Tyrone has eminent

domain powers? Isn't there such a thing as interstate commerce law? A

judge will know all this. Simple again.

The county talks about Tyrone

creating high density issues and the county forgets about the fiasco they

handed us with the Starr's Mill rezoning decision. You know, the simple

things just seem to slip by me.

Sadly, I was a little bit discouraged

with our newest commissioner (as you know, he wrote the Fayette governments

the letter). I would just hope that he doesn't come along just to get

along with the "fun-bunch." You see, I asked him on the telephone

if he was going to join in with the "fun-bunch" on their position

on the tax equity issue. Do you know what he said to me? He just gave

me their standard verbiage response why do it twice?

You do it twice because the

sooner the better. The more often the better. You do it now as opposed

to later because if you can save me a dime now, it's better than saving

me a dime later (because I can put it in savings and draw interest now).

So simple in its concept.

I won't even waste your time

I must admit, the simple things

slip by me. What's wrong with our "fun-bunch" government just

discussing the matter, huh? Why can't we all just get along? County, please

just come to the table. Where's the harm in that?

I must close. When the final

ruling comes down from the judge, I'm gonna predict that it will be just

like that famous saying from that comedian from Miami Beach: "How

sweet it is!"

James Melvin Ewing

Peachtree City

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