Government

PTC rec gains pool savings with new deal

Contractor will purchase chemicals instead, saving $16K

A new contract with USA Pools will save Peachtree City $16,000 this year, according to Peachtree City Recreation Administrator Cajen Rhodes.

The majority of the savings comes in part from USA Pools picking up the cost of pool chemicals, Rhodes told the City Council last week. Some of the savings, about $3,200, is due to using a reduced schedule at the Glenloch pool as well, he added.

USA Pools operates the city’s two pool locations and also offers swimming lessons for city and county residents. Those operations include not just pool maintenance but also lifeguard staffing. Read More»

Coweta BoE names new principals for Northgate and Newnan

Bill Harrison, left front, will succeed Dr. Therese Reddekopp, left rear, as the principal of Northgate High School, and Chase Puckett, right front, will succeed Dr. Doug Moore, right rear, as the principal of Newnan High School. Moore and Reddekopp are leaving their current posts at the end of the school year to begin administrative duties with the Coweta County School System and Harrison and Puckett will begin their new duties at that time. Photo/Special.

The Coweta County Board of Education recently named five individuals to replace principals who are retiring or taking new positions within the system at the end of the current school year.

Bill Harrison is currently an assistant principal and athletic director at Northgate High School and will succeed Dr. Therese Reddekopp as principal of Northgate High School. Reddekopp is leaving Northgate at the end of the current school year to become the Coweta County School System’s Director of Instructional Services. Read More»

PTC mayor’s race now a party of 4; Bloom sets run for Post 4

If someone else enters the race for Peachtree City mayor, the new entrant might as well starting handing out racing silks, helmets and jockey’s whips, because it could turn out to be a horse race.

Tuesday night, Councilman George Dienhart announced his candidacy for the mayor’s post, joining fellow council member Vanessa Fleisch and sitting mayor Don Haddix. When you add already-announced businessman Ryan Jolly to the list, that puts the field at four, and there’s still time for another horse or two to make their entry in the crowded field before qualifying in August. Read More»

F’ville names interim chief, public safety director

The Fayetteville City Council has put an interim police command team in place until the positions being vacated by Chief Steve Heaton and Maj. Kevin Gooding can be filled.

Captain Scott Pitts on April 19 was appointed as interim police chief while Capt. Jeff McMullan will serve as major, Lt. Chad Myers as patrol division captain and Fire Chief Alan Jones as temporary public service director providing oversight and support to the police and fire departments. Read More»

F’ville pushes pedestrian bridge over Hwy. 54 at hospital

Traffic stops for a red light recently at the at-grade pedestrian crossing in front of the Piedmont Fayette Hospital. Photo/Ben Nelms.

A pedestrian bridge across the busy intersection in front of the Piedmont Fayette Hospital is back on the front burner.

The idea of installing a pedestrian bridge over Ga. Highway 54 into Togwatee Village Shopping Center ran into difficulty a few years ago and gave way to a lesser proposal of upgrading the intersection at street level.

And though a $400,000 grant through the Ga. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) was approved for that project, Fayetteville has renewed its interest in trying again for the larger pedestrian bridge project. Read More»

County wants ‘plan B’ to accommodate illegal, undersized lots

The Fayette County Planning Commission is being asked to revisit a different way of helping residents who were unaware their parcels do not conform to zoning regulations and are technically illegal.

In most cases, such parcels are in the agriculture residential zoning category, which requires a minimum lot size of five acres. The non-conforming parcels typically are smaller than five acres, thereby putting them in conflict with the requirement of the zoning ordinance. As such, the landowners are finding they are unable to sell their property when the time comes. Read More»

Harassment study on tap

After lawsuits, PTC authorizes probe into public safety ‘culture’

In the wake of several sexual harassment and job discrimination complaints against Peachtree City, a consultant has been selected to conduct a thorough “operational efficiency analysis” of both the police and fire departments. Read More»

PTC says ‘no’ for now to Bradshaw 54E annexation

A request to explore the annexation of a 28-acre site off Ga. Highway 54 East got a soft “no” from the Peachtree City Council Thursday night.

While council members agreed they were interested in looking at adding the parcel to the city limits, the preference is to look at the bigger picture and what other parcels in the area might also be good candidates for annexation. Council voted 4-0 to deny a “step 1” annexation request, which formally denied the landowner, the Bradshaw family, from trying to work out a plan with city staff. Read More»

PTC says OK to 2-year sales tax

The Peachtree City Council decided Thursday night that it is on board with asking residents to approve a one-percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for a two-year period. The city’s permission was necessary for the county commission to authorize putting the matter on the ballot this fall. Read More»

PTC deadlocks on appeal to sack new 54W light

In a bid to keep the afternoon traffic logjam on Ga. Highway 54 West in Peachtree City from getting worse, City Councilman George Dienhart made a bold proposal at Thursday night’s council meeting, though it ultimately got caught in a 2-2 gridlock of its own. Read More»