Government

Fayette Chairman Brown appeals ethics verdict

Fayette County Commission Chairman Steve Brown is determined to have his day in court. A filing in Fayette County Superior Court has Brown appealing the decision by the Fayette County Ethics Board that found him guilty of two violations of the county ethics ordinance that were alleged by former Commissioner Robert Horgan.

In the petition to the court, attorney Drew Whalen said the ethics board found Brown to be in violation of the ethics ordinance because he gave “a direct instruction to the county’s human resources director to seek a legal opinion from the Ga. Attorney General.” Read More»

Repairs for PTC library pegged at $261,000

Despite righteous indignation about the manufacturer allegedly shirking responsibility for the numerous roof leaks at the Peachtree City Library, the City Council Thursday night voted to spend $261,000 to replace the entire 7-year-old product.

Several city council members lamented the city’s seeming inability to exact retribution for the leaks, particularly since a representative for manufacturer Johns Mansville claimed that one of the holes in the roof was caused by a rock that was thrown onto the roof. Read More»

PTC approves study of Hwy. 54 East annexation

A proposal to add more than 7 acres to Peachtree City’s eastern city limits along Ga. Highway 54 and Sumner Road will be studied further by city staff. The additional work was approved unanimously by the City Council Thursday night. Read More»

Bigfoot sighted at Senoia council meeting

It was a most unusual meeting of the Senoia City Council on April 1 when the legendary Bigfoot appeared and took a seat among city residents. The bipedal beast at meeting’s end made his way to the dais and gave Mayor Robert Belisle a friendly hug. Photo/Ben Nelms.

It was a sight never seen before at a meeting of the Senoia City Council, or likely at any government meeting for that matter. But the April 1 council meeting included an unexpected guest, one whose visit prompted a unanimous vote to proclaim every April 1 as Bigfoot Day in Senoia.

For generations, Bigfoot has been the subject of folklore. But all that changed Monday night when the mythical creature entered the council chambers in the flesh and calmly took a seat among the city’s residents. Read More»

Grant provides water rescue equipment for PTC Fire Dept.

Members of the Peachtree City Fire and Rescue Department accept a $20,000 grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation at the company’s Newnan location. The grant will pay for equipment to outfit the swift water rescue team. Photo/Special.

$20K Firehouse Subs grant pays for ‘swift water rescue’ gear

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation awarded over $20,000 worth of equipment to the Peachtree City Fire and Rescue Department recently at the restaurant at 226 Newnan Crossing Bypass in Newnan.

Attendees included local firefighters, Firehouse Subs franchisee Bhumika Patel, franchisee area representative Shawn Hooks and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation coordinator Jacquelyn Gubbins.

“We want to support first responders and give them whatever they need to protect the city and save lives, and that’s really what our foundation is all about,” Gubbins said. Read More»

BoE eyes loss of 144 teachers, 145 parapros or others

The Fayette County Board of Education in the coming weeks will make a decision on the number of employee positions that will be reduced because of a budget shortfall. The board faces the requirement to trim millions from the 2013—2014 budget the begins in July.

That number currently sits at approximately 310 jobs that are being proposed for elimination at the end of the school year in June. Read More»

Fayette abolishes 21 job slots

Faced with losing a proposed $2 million in savings from the early retirement plan offered to county employees last year, the Fayette County Commission officially eliminated 21 vacant positions at its regular meeting Thursday night.

While 32 county employees took the early retirement package and its additional benefits, 22 of those people were replaced by the beginning of the year, which negated nearly all of the savings from the plan, county officials said. Read More»

Fayette increases EMS fees

A mix of rate increases and decreases will add significantly to the bottom line of Fayette County’s Emergency Medical Service operation.

The rate changes approved Thursday night could result in an additional $527,000 in fees and an additional $324,000 in other revenue.

County officials said the changes will put Fayette County in line with other metro Atlanta agencies, as Fayette hadn’t changed its rates since September 2006. Read More»

PTC mulls annexation lineup

A ‘yes’ will allow future consideration to bring four tracts into the city limits; developer wants sewer access Read More»

F’ville city manager answers complaints

Letters from four people identifying themselves as Fayetteville residents, a Fayetteville business owner or as concerned citizens have lodged a number of concerns and complaints against Police Chief Steve Heaton, Maj. Kevin Gooding and, to a lesser extent, some city employees and the Fayetteville City Council.

Among the allegations made toward Heaton, and to a lesser extent toward Gooding, included charges of a hostile work environment with high stress, harassment of employees, a high turnover rate among officers, a lack of support for officers, pressuring officers to write tickets and a diminished number of officers on duty per shift. Read More»

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