Government

School Board updates system’s layoff policy

In anticipation of using it, the Fayette County Board of Education this week revised its layoff policy.

The board adopted a revised Reduction in Force (RIF) policy at the Jan. 28 meeting.

Interim Superintendent Dan Colwell prior to the discussion on the policy said the policy was revised to bring it in line with state law.

The school board is currently considering the potential for eliminating more than 220 jobs for the 2013-2014 school year in order to adopt a balanced budget in June. All totaled, those cuts will require that approximately $15 million be trimmed from the budget. Read More»

Commission Chairman Brown avoids ethics penalty, plans legal appeal

Although he was found to have violated two provisions of the Fayette County government ethics ordinance, county Commission Chairman Steve Brown was partially absolved of one of the charges which spun off from seeking advice from the Georgia attorney general’s office.

The other charge, however, dealt with Brown issuing an order to the county’s HR director via email. Brown contended at the Jan. 23 hearing before the county’s ethics board that the email was actually a request, noting that had he considered it an order he would have followed up to make sure it was followed. Read More»

Local public debts that you may not know you owe

PTC incurs debt without voter approval

Once upon a time, when local governments wanted to borrow money to pay for a new building or buy a new fire truck, the elected officials had two ways to go: Ask the voters to approve a bond referendum or pay for it out of current tax revenue cash flow.

No more. Now, using a variety of legal alternative borrowing methods, Read More»

PTC to meet on WASA bond decision

Council approval will save extra $500K on bond refi

The Peachtree City Council will hold a special called meeting Wednesday morning to vote on a resolution to back the refinancing of bonds for the city sewer system.

If approved, the effort will help the city’s Water and Sewer Authority save a total of $1.8 million over the life of the loan. A no vote might force WASA to refinance the bonds for a savings of $1.3 million instead.

A no vote would also require WASA to pony up $1.8 million in a reserve fund that would not be required with the city’s backing. The city’s support also helps WASA achieve a lower interest rate on the financing. Read More»

PTC survey vote planned for this week

Once complete, ‘focus group’ will give input before invitations are mailed

A citizen committee will vote this week on the final wording of a survey that seeks public input from city residents on how much they are willing to pay for city services.

The survey will offer details on how much the “average value” home in Peachtree City, tabbed at $243,000, pays in property taxes for police, fire, recreation and other services. It will be up to each individual participant to determine if those costs are just right, too high, or if the city should spend even more on a given service. Read More»

WASA adds no-dig pipe replacement to arsenal

WASA contractors begin the pipe lining process for a sewer line at the Planterra Ridge Golf Course by inserting the Cured In Place Pipe (CIPP) into a manhole at the head end of the line. In the distance is the next manhole where the pipe lining process will conclude. Photo/Special.

New technology replaces pipe from inside, adds structural integrity

Instead of digging up old sewer pipes and replacing them, the Peachtree City Water and Sewer Authority is turning to new technology that replaces the pipe from the inside. Read More»

Fayette commission to change ethics ordinance?

County govt. meets Tues. night to 'discuss' ethics ordinance days after chair found in violation

The Fayette County Commission will conduct a special called meeting Tuesday evening to “discuss Fayette County’s ethics ordinance.” The meeting will convene at 5:30 p.m. at the large public meeting room at the county administrative complex in downtown Fayetteville. Read More»

Fayette BoE moves Jan. 28 meeting to Sams Auditorium

The Fayette County Board of Education in anticipation of larger attendance will hold the Jan. 28 meeting at Sams Auditorium in Fayetteville. Aside from its regular agenda, the school board will hear a report from the redistricting committee responsible for submitting a plan to close up to four Fayette County public schools. Read More»

Senoia qualifying dates set

It was an otherwise short agenda item approved with little fanfare at Monday night’s meeting of the Senoia City Council. But the approval of the qualifying dates for municipal elections later this year could result in increased interest since Mayor Robert Belisle has announced he will not seek reelection.

Belisle’s term will expire at the end of the year, as will those of Councilman Jeff Fisher and Councilman Larry Owens. Senoia uses the at-large method of electing council members. Read More»

Ethics board rules against commissioner Brown

Board votes against any penalty for 2 violations brought by former commissioner Horgan

On a split vote this evening, Fayette County’s ethics board determined that County Commission Chairman Steve Brown violated the county’s ethics ordinance on two separate occasions.

The board voted unanimously, however, not to penalize Brown for either of the infractions. Read More»

Recent Comments

More Comments