Peachtree City had another

banner year in 2003. The city's population surpassed 35,000 residents,

and the city issued 283 residential building permits (an increase over

207 in 2002). Nearly 300 new businesses were registered via payment of

the city's occupational tax, including 11 new restaurants (La Hacienda

Mexican Restaurant, Cindy's Southern Café, Bimini Bay Café,

Buckhead Brewery & Grill, Casa Vieja, Gumba's Rotisserie Café,

Mellow Mushroom (opening in February 2004), Mike & C's Family

Sports Grill, Ashland Grille, Saffron Market, and Zaxby's), keeping

Peachtree City the dining capital of Fayette County.

It was also a terrific year

for Peachtree City's youth athletic teams. There were five national

championship baseball teams and one state champion. Eight local youths

in the Southern Crescent Aquatics Team earned state championships. One

football team earned state champion status, and five of the local youth

soccer teams earned state championships, with four going on to earn regional

or national titles. Additionally, the Booth Science Olympiad team again

took national honors.

These young people are probably

the best public relations effort there is for our community. They represent

us and get our name out there at each game, and the local youth continue

to excel.

City Manager Bernard McMullen

also established a marketing strategy committee to help devise a program

for continued attraction of business to the community, replacing the marketing

efforts that Pathway Communities shouldered for years. The committee succeeded

in developing a new logo and slogan for the community, will work in 2004

to develop marketing materials to assist the local development authorities,

the Airport Authority, and the Tourism Association, in fulfilling their

missions to augment Peachtree City's tax base through the attraction

of quality businesses and the promotion of tourism.

Additional milestones for 2003

are chronicled below:

January 2003

Aircraft Spruce and Specialty

Company moved its eastern regional distribution center to a location adjacent

to the Peachtree City-Falcon Field Airport. The addition of the Piper

dealership later in the year marked impressive growth in Peachtree City's

aviation business sector.

After meeting with officials

from Panasonic, Mayor Brown worked with State Senator Mitch Seabaugh to

secure a traffic light to help employee traffic, which was backing up

due to the increased volume of vehicles on Ga. Highway 74. This addressed

a major safety concern for industrial park residents.

Chris Clark, president and

CEO of the Fayette County Development Authority, said in a presentation

to the city council that 155 industrial prospects had been recorded in

the first half of fiscal year 2003, compared to 97 for the entire previous

fiscal year in 2002. The authority also hosted 24 state and national project

managers in the first six months of the fiscal year compared to 32 the

previous year.

February 2003

Peachtree City leveraged an

additional $200,000 investment into approximate $1.2 million on the new

TDK Extension agreement with Fayette County and Coweta County. The city

was initially asked to pay an additional $750,000. This new deal was a

substantial savings for the city.

March 2003

The Peachtree City Library

Commission announced plans to introduce a referendum for a new library

expansion. The referendum would later pass by 76 votes.

The city council approved funding

for the first dog park in South Metro Atlanta. The $5,000 in seed money

for the project will be repaid by funds raised by the Dog Park Committee.

The city's Teen Study

Circles projects concluded with the groups participating asking for more

teen activities and better relations with the police. The Peachtree City

Youth Council was created, as well as a Police/Youth Relations organization,

and the call for more usable space for teens was included in the library

expansion proposal. The Youth Council's first project, The Battle

of the Bands, was a huge success with approximately 500 attendees.

The first new building along

the road frontage of Ga. Highway 54 in the city's Livable Centers

Initiative (LCI), a Tires Plus store, began the approval process. The

new building will become a standard for the upcoming architectural overlay

zone under consideration by council in early 2004

April 2003

The state legislature passed

legislation that requires all law enforcement agencies in the state to

have a high-speed chase policy. This legislation originated from a campaign

launched by Police Chief Jim Murray after a recent high-speed chase through

Peachtree City resulted in a fatality.

At the invitation of Mayor

Brown, the first meeting was held of a group of local governments to discuss

how to protect the Hwy. 74 traffic corridor. This voluntary display of

cooperation was the first of its kind in Metro Atlanta history. The initial

group included Senoia, Peachtree City, Tyrone, Fairburn and Fulton County.

The South Fulton CID joined soon thereafter, followed by Union City, Fayetteville,

Fayette County and Sharpsburg.

The Dixie Wing Commemorative

Air Force World War II Flying Museum celebrated its opening. The museum,

located at Falcon Field in Peachtree City, is an educational resource

for local citizens and students.

The Buckhead Brewery opened,

signaling some significant new restaurant development on the city's

eastern-most border.

May 2003

Bernard J. McMullen was selected

as the new city manager of Peachtree City. His previous position was as

director of the General Services Department of Fulton County.

J.C. Booth Middle School's

Science Olympiad team once again claimed the top prize at the National

Science Olympiad Competition. This was their seventh first place finish.

The McIntosh Lady Chiefs soccer

team was ranked number one in two U.S. polls.

The Atlanta Regional Commission

announced that Peachtree City received an additional $400,000 in grants

to improve pedestrian features near the hwys. 54 and 74 intersection,

including a pedestrian walkway underneath Hwy. 54. Construction is expected

to start in spring of 2004. In total, the city has received nearly $1.5

million in Livable Centers Initiative grants.

June 2003

The Georgia Appeals Court ruled

that a driver's license is needed to operate a golf cart. The ruling

affected 15-year-olds as well as senior and disabled citizens unable to

obtain a driver's license. The city has pending legislation before

the General Assembly in January 2004 to make necessary changes in state

law.

July 2003

Peachtree City unveiled a new

July 4 parade route and Gov. Sonny Perdue accepted the invitation from

Mayor Brown to lead the parade. A record 15,000 spectators were on hand

and the new route received rave reviews for viewing capacity and safety.

After months of preparation,

Peachtree City took its first steps towards creating a stormwater utility.

The city council authorized spending $12,750 to fund a feasibility study.

The Battle of the Bands is

a big success. The first project of the Peachtree City Youth Council attracted

sponsors, fans and let them put some money in the bank.

Nearly 3,000 local people got

a first look at what is hoped will be a repeat performance, watching the

digitally mastered movie "E.T., The Extraterrestrial," on a

50-foot tall, inflatable screen at the Peachtree City Baseball Soccer

Complex. The event was called "Movie Under the Stars" and was

sponsored by Star 94.

August 2003

The Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater

kicked off its new Jazz Series with Lou Rawls on Aug. 9, followed by Carol

Welsman in September and Spyro Gyra in October. Reports indicated that

80 percent of the ticket holders for this series were first-time visitors

to Peachtree City's amphitheater.

The new Crabapple Lane Elementary

opened in Peachtree City on Aug. 11. Fayette County schools saw record

attendance with 21,000 students countywide.

The city council approved an

assistant city manager position. The assistant city manager has been designated

as the staff member to handle the transition of the venue management from

the Development Authority of Peachtree City.

September 2003

The annual Great Georgia Air

Show had a wonderful turnout and placed tens of thousands of dollars in

the hands of local charitable organizations. At the request of Mayor Brown,

the air show had to cover the expense of security and fire protection

on its own, and they did so without a problem.

Vice Chairman of the Peachtree

City Development Authority, Scott Bradshaw, resigned. Saying the operation

of the Peachtree City Tennis Center and Frederick Brown Amphitheater had

become too much for a part-time board to manage, the Development Authority

of Peachtree City resigned from its management contract with the city

council and handed the two venues