County

Fayette's stormwater problems not that bad, Chase says

Fayette County’s stormwater problems are neither that urgent nor that extensive, says retired biologist Dennis Chase, an occasional Citizen columnist and outspoken advocate for environmental issues.

That caution has been added to the conversation surrounding Fayette County’s proposed stormwater SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) that could face voter scrutiny in November.

Chase says the project needs have been significantly overstated. Read More»

Fayette: No tax increase

Fayette County’s proposed 2013-2014 budget will avoid a property tax increase and also will be balanced due to a host of personnel cuts across county departments.

The county has eliminated 32 full-time positions, shrinking the government force to 706 full-time and 13.3 part-time employees. At the same time, the budget has made room for a new information systems analyst for information technology along with an assistant water plant manager as required by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, officials said. Read More»

Refunds for stinky water? No, says Chairman Brown

As Fayette County’s odorous tap water problem has extended into its second week, Read More»

Coweta administrator honored for service

Coweta County Administrator Theron Gay was recently awarded the 2013 Jerry R. Griffin Excellence in Public Service Award by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia. Pictured, from left, are ACCG Executive Director Ross King, Theron Gay and Walton County Commission Chairman and ACCG 1st Vice President Kevin Little. Photo/Special.

Longtime Coweta County Administrator Theron Gay has been named as the recipient of the 2013 Jerry R. Griffin Excellence in Public Service Award by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). The award is given to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the citizens of Georgia through public service in county government.

Gay received the award during the recent 2013 ACCG conference in Savannah. Read More»

Coweta schools facing $14M state funding cut

$2.8M decrease expected in property tax revenue

The Coweta County Board of Education is beginning its considerations for the 2013-2014 budget that begins in July. On the horizon are increasing costs and decreasing revenues that could lead to budget reductions of millions of dollars. Read More»

Officials: Water may be smelly, but it’s safe

Fayette County Water System officials reported Tuesday that complaints from residents in north and central Peachtree City about a peculiar odor and taste in their drinking water is not cause for alarm. The problem is being resolved and the water is safe to drink, officials said.

Complaints from area residents began late last week, but Water System Director Tony Parrott said May 7 the “musky” odor in the water is no reason for alarm. Read More»

Veteran Brooks attorney named to vacant magistrate’s post

A Brooks attorney who has been practicing law for 42 years has been selected as Fayette County’s new magistrate judge.

Loyd Hall Black Jr. was appointed to the post by Fayette County Chief Superior Court Judge Christopher Edwards. Black will fill the position left vacant when newly-elected magistrate Jason B. Thompson was appointed to be the county’s newest State Court judge.

One of the most significant duties of a magistrate judge is to rule on arrest warrant petitions filed by both law enforcement and the general public, along with the authority to set bond for a criminal defendant. 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»

Tax assessor: Property values level out; bottom reached?

Preliminary figures from the Fayette County Tax Assessor’s Office are offering good news about the decline in property values experienced over the past several years during the recession.

The drop in this year’s overall tax digest — which is the combined value of all parcels in Fayette County — is expected to be just 1 percent, the county commission was told at its retreat Friday morning. That’s compared to the countywide decline in property values of 10 percent seen last year, so there is hope this is a sign that residential property values have found their low point. Read More»

West Bypass, meet your $28 million twin, the East Bypass

The Fayette County Commission covered a variety of topics at its annual retreat on April 5. From left, seated, Chairman Steve Brown, Commissioner Randy Ognio, county staffers, and commissioners David Barlow, Allen McCarty and Charles Oddo. Photo/Ben Nelms.

5 anti-West Bypass commissioners eye spending $28 million in local money to build bypass on F’ville’s east side

The five Fayette County commissioners who campaigned against the West Fayetteville Bypass, largely on an outcry that it cost too much money, may be positioning themselves to spend a similar amount, $28 million, to build a second bypass, this time on the east side of Fayetteville.

A common refrain among the commissioners campaigning against the West Fayetteville Bypass was that the project was a “road to nowhere.” Read More»