Government

Senoia swats back at unusual lawsuit

Senoia city attorney Drew Whalen has filed a response to the March 15 lawsuit filed in Coweta County Superior Court by resident Don Rehman against the mayor and city council over a city ordinance that he maintains amounts to a requirement that all males within city limits be required to possess one ounce or more of marijuana. Whalen in the response said the city ordinance making possession of less than an ounce a misdemeanor is not in violation of state law and that Rehman is asking the court for an advisory opinion on what in his mind is a political issue or question. Read More»

FCHS Principal Warr among 28 to retire, 8 to resign by July

The Fayette County Board of Education Monday night approved the retirement of 28 employees and the resignations of eight others. The majority of those retiring are teachers and administrative staff.

The board weeks ago announced the need to eliminate approximately 310 school system jobs before the next school year begins in July.

Among those retiring in the next two months, 14 are teachers while a number of others hold positions in various administrative posts. Read More»

School Board calls Ware County for next Fayette superintendent

Dr. Joseph “Jody” C. Barrow, Jr.

Ware County School Superintendent Dr. Joseph “Jody” C. Barrow, Jr. is the lone finalist for the superintendent’s job that will be open in Fayette County schools on July 1. Barrow’s selection was announced Monday night at the meeting of the Fayette County Board of Education. The school board must wait the required two weeks before voting on Barrow’s employment. Read More»

PTC to hear annexing request for Hwy. 54 E. retail

A proposal to annex 28.3 acres off Ga. Highway 54 East and Sumner Road for an as-yet undefined commercial and office project will be presented to the Peachtree City Council Thursday night.

The plan has not yet been vetted by city staff because council approval is needed first as part of the “step one” annexation request. If council approves further study Thursday night, city staff will work on the plan with the developer before presenting a recommendation at a later date for a final vote from council. Read More»

New hotel plan touted for 74N

The latest plan to build a Fairfield Inn and Suites behind the Wisdom Point shopping center off Ga. Highway 74 north in Peachtree City was well-received by the planning commission Monday night.

No vote was taken on the plan, as it was presented in a workshop format so the commission could give feedback on the concept.

The 80-room hotel will need a rezoning from the City Council because it will be more than 52 feet tall to accommodate its five stories. A rezoning is necessary for all buildings that would be larger than 35 feet tall. Read More»

2nd discrimination suit names PTC, police chief

A former Peachtree City housing code official has filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the city, Police Chief H.C. “Skip” Clark and police Sgt. Kay Crider.

According to the lawsuit filed on behalf of Tamara Babb, the problems began after she was transferred from the city’s building department to the police department, which had assumed most of the city’s code enforcement functions. Read More»

Chick-fil-A plan for 54W tabled by PTC planners

Concerns about potential problems with traffic circulation led the Peachtree City Planning Commission to table consideration of a conceptual site plan for a new Chick-fil-A restaurant on Ga. Highway 54 West.

The site design is complicated by Read More»

Senoia gains statewide attention

It seems like Senoia is always making the news, including in stories outside Coweta County. Most recently the city was featured on the cover of the statewide Georgia Travel Guide. Now the city has been featured in the 2013 Economic Yearbook of “Georgia Trend” magazine. Read More»

Senoia tables hotel tax ordinance

The Senoia City Council last week tabled a proposed ordinance that would establish a Hotel/Motel Excise Tax. Tabled until the proposal can be researched further, the ordinance is expected to surface again in the near future.

As written, the tax would carry a rate of 3 percent on the price of room rental and would apply to a variety of lodging accommodations. Senoia currently has only bed and breakfast businesses and no hotels or motels. Read More»

Stair tower to highlight exterior renovations to Westpark Walk

Plans to renovate the exterior of the Westpark Walk shopping center at the intersection of Ga. highways 54 and 74 were approved by the Peachtree City Planning Commission Monday night.

Coro Realty Advisors plans to add a stair tower element facing the intersection that would contain a new sign and be a central architectural feature for the two-story building at Westpark.

Coro also is proposing to add more landscaping to the area between Hwy. 74 and the buildings along with updated lighting and other exterior upgrades. Read More»