About Fayette County news. (Fayetteville, GA) 2009-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 2009)
i TUESDAY Feb.24,2009 Volume 133 • No 23 50 Cents Jr-^| www.fayettedailynews.com Check Us Out GEORGIA NEWSPAPER PROJECT m MAIN LIBRARY - UGA ATHENS GA 30602-0001 SPORTSi Tigers, Lady Tigers region champions See Page 5A Views: Glynn Moore: Digital TV kills my radio news See Page 3A They’re all champions The Fayette County Tigers and Lady Tigers both won their region championships Saturday night. That makes it three in a row for the Lady Tigers and two our of three for the Tigers. And they all gathered on the gym floor after the victories to celebrate together. Now it’s on to the state basketball tournament for both teams. More on Page 5A. (Staff Photo by Cindy Morley) PTC employees to pay more for health care •- ■****<. . ■'*$ Council approves Step 1 for annexation for subdivision By Cindy Morley CINDY@FAYETTEDAILYNEWS.COM Developers wanting to annex 48 acres off Carriage Lane into Peachtree City and build a new subdivision of high-end homes can begin working with city staff. Members of the Peachtree City City Council approved a Step 1 annexation request by Hyde Properties Thursday night on a 4-1 vote. Coucilmember Don Haddix opposed the motion, saying the city already had too many high priced homes for sale. “I question the timing of this,” said Haddix. “I feel it might be pre-mature.” The two tracts of land proposed for annexation are located behind Peachtree City Methodist Church off Robinson Road. Mike Lorber, agent for Hyde Properties, said the property is landlocked due to the location of Camp Creek and must be accessed through the city. Nearly 11 acres of the land is in the flood plain, he said, adding that no homes would be built near the flood plain, and developers hoped to put that land in conservation. According to Lorber, the subdivision would be an extension of the current Hyde Park subdivision, with lot sizes of 2 acres to 2.5 acres. “We would be developing this subdivision just like Hyde Park with homes ranging from about $600,000 to $1 million,” he said, giving a timeframe of about 2011- 2012 for construction. He also said with the planned expansion of NCR in Peachtree City, there could easily be a market for this range of homes. A few residents spoke out against the plan, including Beth Pullias, who said she didn’t think PTC needed any more homes in that price range. Councilmember Cyndi Plunkett said she could sup port the Step 1 phase, but did not think the city should not pay for the road necessary for the project. Lorber agreed. “I’ve worked in this city before,” he said: “I under stand.” Mayor Harold Logsdon asked why no one had looked into improving Stagecoach Road that runs to the property. Step 1 does not mean approval of the annexation. It only allows city staff to begin working with the devel opers. Teen arrested in Food Depot robbery. By Cindy Morley CINDY@FAYETTEDAILYNEWS.COM A 16-year-old has been arrested and charged with the robbery of an employee in the parking lot at Food Depot on January 23, 2009, police said. According to Fayetteville Police, the 16-year-oldw as arrested Friday and was turned over to the Clayton County Youth Detention Center. Police said the teenager is charged in the Jan. 23 incident when Devin Jenkins was robbed at gun point as he left the store to go to the bank. Jenkins was approached by the 16 year old and one other male, police said. According to the reports, the 16 year old displayed a gun to Jenkins and demanded his money. After taking the money, the 16 year old fled with three other persons in a vehicle, police said. Detectives interviewed several persons throughout the investigation and the 16 year old was developed as a suspect. As a result of the interviews an arrest warrant for the 16 year old was issued for Armed Robbery, police said. First budget bill hits General Assembly floor The first of two budget bills hits the House floor for a vote this week as a Senate committee considers Sunday alcohol sales. The legislature must pass two bud get bills, one that adjusts the current fiscal year, and the more complex one which sets the spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1. It's the smaller, mid-year adjustment that will come before the full House this week and then on to the Senate. The days allotted for the current session are more than half gone, but the House Appropriations Committee held up the mid-year adjustment until a way was found to restore the $428 million for homeowner tax-relief grants. Gov. Sonny Perdue had said there wasn't enough money for them, but legislators wanted to preserve them for the current year to keep local governments from having to send a second property-tax notice to homeowners. Perdue agreed last week to use money the federal government included in its stimulus package for the grants, but at the same time he lowered his estimate of the revenue the budget would include from state tax collections. That lowered estimate triggered Under the Gold Dome more cuts that the House budget writers had include in their version of the budget before the whole body could vote on it. "We can move forward," said House Majority Leader Jerry Keen, R-St. Simons Island. "We've identi fied sources of additional cuts with his revised revenue numbers." Keen's counterpart in the Senate, Sen. Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, said cooperation between the House and Senate on the contents of the budget would smooth the way for the mid-year adjustment in his chamber. "We will act quickly on it," Rogers said. Other major action expected this week includes: • Senate consideration of House Bill 233 which would cap local property-tax assessments for two years in response to the recession • A vote by the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee on Senate Bill 16 which would permit communities to ask voters to OK the sale of packaged alcohol on Sundays • A vote in the Senate of SB 156 which creates (Continued on Page 2A) Budget shortfall blamed for council decision By Cindy Morley CINDY@FAYETTEDAILYNEWS.COM Blame it on the tough eco nomic times... Peachtree City employees are about to pay more for health insurance and part-time employees are losing vacation time accrual. Members of the Peachtree City City Council approved both recommendations Thursday night by unanimous vote. “These are issues that must be looked at to help address the current economic situa tion,” said City Manager Bemie McMullen. With the change, employees will pay $40 a month for single coverage and $100 a month for family coverage. “In essence, we are doubling their amount of contribution each month,” said McMullen. But, McMullen said, with the city’s recently implemented 'wellness plan, employees can receive up to $175 back in gift cards and refunds if they take part in the program. Families are eligible for about $300. “We had our wellness plan kickoff recently, and over 100 employees are participating so far,” McMullen said. As for vacation time, employees will be allowed to use their remaining sick time. However, if that employee quits or is terminated they would not be paid for any remaining leave, McMullen said. This is expected to save about $45,000 per year, McMullen said. Your Local Weather 04879 12633 T ue 2/24 53/33 A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed toy cloudy skies during the . Wed 2/25 60/42 Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 60s and lows in the low 4-Os. Thu 2/26 67/50 Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 60s and lows in the low 5Os Student Athlete W ^ of the Week I Hip H McIntosh I J " s y ■ Ricky ™ “ OSKEY Wrestling Mike Fitzpatrick’s Newnan - 770-502-3673 Student Athlete Of the Week Whitewater ns j Michael Escarra | Wrestling Mike Fitzpatrick’s Newnan - 770-502-3673
