Despite pleas from several

citizens for fiscal restraint, the City Council of Peachtree City voted

to spend $5,000 as "seed money" to help an organization build

a dog park for city residents.

Council had previously agreed

to donate a tract of land for the park, which will be located next to

the Kedron Fieldhouse. Representatives of the dog park subcommittee, which

is part of the city's Recreation Commission, urged for the funding to

help get the ball rolling.

The park will feature a special

fountain with two separate faucets one up high for humans and one down

low for the dogs.

The $5,000, which will be taken

out of the council's contingency budget, leaves just $22,000 in the discretionary

fund for the remaining six-plus months of the year.

Councilwoman Annie McMenamin

was the only vote against the funding.

"My concerns are basically

about the money," McMenamin said, adding that she thought the city's

miles and miles of golf cart paths are a good place for many dogs to get

exercise.

Proponents of the park argued

that many residents would use the park to allow their dogs to get exercise

and socialize with other dogs. Another plus would be giving the dogs a

place to walk other than the city's cart path system, where some have

complained of encounters with dogs, council was told.

McMenamin suggested donating

a prorated portion of the $5,000 since other council representatives pointed

out the city gave $5,000 to help start the All Children's Playground initiative.

That project needed $150,000 while the dog park project only needs approximately

$14,000, McMenamin noted.

Councilman Steve Rapson, who

requested the $5,000 be funded by council, said such spending would not

be what required a tax increase next year.

"I'm not opposed to you

coming back for the entire amount," Rapson told the committee members.

The park would be run by volunteers,

according to current plans.

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