Peachtree City

officials have responded to a critical letter to the editor from former

mayor Bob Lenox that blames current mayor Steve Brown for spending money

that could have been used for road projects such as the extension of TDK

Boulevard.

The city's

response, which was faxed to The Citizen Thursday, says "... the

city feels compelled to respond since Mr. Lenox's comments might be perceived

as valid based on his status as a former elected official."

In the letter

to the editor, which was published in Wednesday's edition of The Citizen,

Lenox alleged that Brown "squandered nearly a million dollars which

was intended for critical road projects." Lenox said Brown's move

to spend $842,775 to purchase approximately 5 acres at the entrance to

the Wynnmeade subdivision off Ga. Highway 54 diverted money that was intended

for other road projects.

In response,

the city's press release refutes Lenox's stance. The release cites several

points, including:

"There

was never a 'balance of nearly a million dollars' of loan proceeds (from

the Georgia Municipal Association loan) that were 'held in reserve for

crucial road projects,' as stated in the (Lenox) letter."

"During

Mayor Brown's administration, approximately $635,000 of the $4.5 million

GMA loan proceeds was diverted away from other projects and approximately

$539,000 allocated for road projects, particularly Hwy. 54 West and the

Huddleston/Dividend intersection."

"Since

all of the loan proceeds were originally allocated to projects, and there

never was a reserve fund set aside for rods, we therefore could not have

diverted funds from a (non-existent) contingency fund to use for other

projects, such as land purchase."

"The land

acquisition of the Wynnmeade Parkway parcel had been discussed in executive

session for a month and was approved by the public meeting by a 5-0 vote

to insure that we protect (the) vital Hwy. 54 traffic corridor."

"To date,

Peachtree City is the only jurisdiction that has actually invested in

the TDK Extension project and these funds came out of the council contingency

(fund)."

The city plans

to use the property not only as a passive park area but also a location

for a cart path bridge that will serve as the "gateway" entrance

feature to Peachtree City for motorists driving in from Coweta County.

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