About Fayette daily news. (Fayetteville, Ga.) 1997-2009 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2007)
T J GEORGIA NEWSPAPSJ LIBRARY-UGA ‘THENSGA3C602 WEDNESDAY, AUG. 1, 2007 • 131ST YEAR NO. 116 • FAYETTEDAILYNEWS.COM tiiLV News LYNEWS.COM , ijLVWMT THE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WILL HURT THEM • 50 CENTS PTC councilman wants commission seat > 1 feel I can do more for Peachtree City and Fayette County as a county commissioner.,.’ -Stuart Kourajian By Cindy Morley cindy@fayettedailynews.com Stuart Kourajian won’t be throwing his hat in the ring for re-election for the Post 2 seat on the Peachtree City council. He’ll be throwing it in the ring for the Post 3 seat on the Fayette County Board of Commissioners next year. That seat is currently held by Peter Pfeifer. “I have enjoyed serving Peachtree City as a part of the city council, and I like to believe I’ve done a good job for the residents of this city,” said Kourajian Tuesday morning. “But, I’ve given this a lot of thought and I feel I can do more for Peachtree City and Fayette County as a county commissioner.” Kourajian is coming to the end of his first term on the Peachtree City City Council. His Post 2 city seat is up for re-election this November, with quali fying set for the end of this month - Aug. 27-31. “I’m very much looking forward to 1 this opportunity,” said Kourajian. “I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this, talking with my family and friends, as well as talking with people (Continued on Page 3A) Brooks is ready to grow with annexation requests Fayette County commissioners won’t object to three applications By Cindy Morley cindy@fayettedailynews.com The town of Brooks may be soon bet getting a little bigger, thanks to the Fayette County commissioners. Fayette County Commissioners agreed Thursday night not to object to three separate annexations requests by town officials. The first of the three properties is a 21-acre tract located off Woods Road, according to county officials. The property is currently zoned AR (agricultural residential) in the county, and would have the same zoning in Brooks, said Pete Frisina, Director of Planning and Zoning for Fayette County, during his presentation to com missioners. Owners of the property plan to build two single family homes, Frisina said. The second tract includes 100 acres off McIntosh Road, owned by Dan Langsford. This property is currently zoned AR in the county, and will also carry the same zoning in Brooks. Frisina said there was no indication of development of this property, according to the application. Fayette staff had no objections to the annexation. The third request for annexation involves 54 acres on Price Road on the western side of Brooks. The property, zoned AR in the coun ty, will remain AR in Brooks, Frisina said. The intent is to develop four single family lots on the property, officials, said. “There is actually a preliminary plat that has been approved in Fayette County for this property,” Frisina said. “The developer has issues with cross ing the railroad tracks, but they will have those same issues in Brooks.” Staff had no objections to the request. “Because of state regulations, we have to act right away on these requests,” said Commission Peter Pfeifer. “We are working under a time clock. “Fortunately, we have new state leg islation that takes place next month regarding these issues,” Pfeifer added. The annexations will now have to be voted on by members of the Brooks Town Council. Tribute to Kenny Melear Celebration takes a Congressional look By Lee Coleman lee@fayettedailynews.com The cost of a gallon of gas was $1.16. The average price for a new car was $12,750. The American inflation rate was 2.96 percent. This was 1993 and unknown to the citizens of Fayetteville, a precedent was set that remains strongly intact today. Fayetteville has not raised it’s millage rate since. Indeed, the millage has gone down in subsequent years. Last Thursday, the Fayetteville city council held the first required public hearing on the 2007 millage rate and according to Lynn Robinson, the city’s Director of Finance, her staff recommended the property millage rate for 2007 stay the same as 2006 at 2.99 mills. A “mill” is now worth $898,071. For the fiscal year 2008, 2.24 mills will go to the city’s general fund and .75 mills is dedicated for capital projects. When asked how the city has been able to maintain and lower the millage, councilman Glenn Brewer said it all comes back to the city staff. “How? I would say that our outstanding finance depart ment and the management of our funds within the city and meeting all of our required services,” he said. “We are way ahead of the game and have a substantial financial foundation and reserves. Not since 1993 has there been an increase The 50th anniversary celebration for Melear’s Barbeque in Fayetteville Saturday, took on a Congressional flair when Rep. Lynn Westmoreland showed up to give his congrats to Kenny Melear. Westmoreland presented Melear with a Congressional sealed proclamation for the “people of Fayette County and I per sonally am thankful for 50 years of fine meals and good company at Melear’s...and best wishes for a half century more...’ Fayetteville millage rate remains the same “I think overall we have a bedroom commu nity. This is one of the finest, neatest and cleanest little towns in the whole state of Georgia.” The biggest millage rate advantage probably came during the 1996-1997 period when the Fayette Pavilion came on-line. That year, the city was able to have one of it’s biggest roll back years when it rolled back nearly a full mill. “This has always been one of the goals of the mayor and council is to keep our tax rates down for our citizens and keep our services at the highest possible level,’ said City Manager Joe Morton. “Basically, we get the biggest bang for your buck and I think the city has done that very effec tively.” Comparatively speaking, Fayetteville has the lowest millage rate of 16 ,metro Atlanta cities. The highest is East Point at 12.16 mills. For comparison, Peachtree City’s rate is 5.53 mills with Newnan coming in at 4.34. “We’ve had a consistent growth pattern over the years and that has helped out to provide the revenues more from a growth standpoint rather than a reassessment aspect,” added Morton. “The city and the staff and the department heads are keeping control of their costs and expenses on an annual basis.” (Continued on Page 3A) Sports HIT TIME It’s time for football and that means it’s time to start hitting. Under Georgia High School Association rules, foot ball players can put on the pads and helmets today and begin pre season workouts. Starr’s Mill is at camp ™ this week in Covington, - JPI and SancJ Y s : |m» creek opens camp today on Page 5A Comics and Games • Don’t miss our daily comic page complete with daily cross word and daily word games — Page 6A Opinions Charley Reese: History is still the world’s LONGEST RUNNING MOVIE Walter C. Jones: Why Georgia 4A GOVERNOR Perdue’s boys have left his SIDE Weather Local Weather Wed 8/1 89/71 gr . s Sunny along with a few clouds. High 89F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Thu 8/2 90/70 »i %||j. y A few clouds. Highs in the low 90s and lows in the low 70s. Fri 8/3 89/69 Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 80s and lows in the upper 60s. CONTACT US If you have news story or a delivery problem, call us at 770-461-6317
