The Peachtree

City Council has postponed a decision on whether to spend $21,000 for

extra police and emergency personnel for the Great Georgia Air Show, formerly

known as Wings Over Dixie.

This year's

show will be at Falcon Field Sept. 14-15, hosted by the Commemorative

Air Force (formerly the Confederate Air Force) and the Peachtree City

Kiwanis Club.

Air Show Chairman

Greg Hall formally requested the funds from the city to be paid directly

to the public safety employees who participate in the function, which

draws crowds from all over metro Atlanta. But council tabled the matter

at its meeting last week so it could be provided with figures on the air

show's budget.

That action

was opposed by Councilman Dan Tennant, who said he felt the city should

support the air show.

Council has

supported the air show the past two years with commitments to spend approximately

$21,000 on fire and police protection each time. Councilwoman Annie McMenamin,

who previously has been involved with the air show through being on the

Kiwanis Club, said the air show uses more than the minimum requirements

for safety purposes.

Last year's

air show helped 38 local charities, many of whom had food booths at the

show to raise funds.

"We're

giving this to a third party charity," said Mayor Steve Brown, who

also acknowledged that the air show gives "a lot of exposure to the

city."

"It protects

the citizens, for crying out loud," Tennant said. "It's not

a donation."

Brown said

the funds could be used to fund other city projects such as playgrounds.

"Then

send them to the Kiwanis Club," Hall replied.

Hall agreed

that if the air show had funds left over it would repay the city for the

police and fire personnel expenditures.

Councilman

Steve Rapson said he wanted to see the air show's budget to determine

the risk of the city getting its money back.

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