Friday, Mar. 25, 2005

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Planning, in and out of PTC, a priority for Boswell

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

One of the main reasons Phil Boswell wants to run for mayor is his affinity for Peachtree City as a planned community.

It is important, he said, for the city to build relationships with other jurisdictions such as Fayette, Coweta and Fulton counties in addition to Tyrone, Fairburn and Newnan, to work toward quality development on Ga. highways 54 and 74, because those roads lead into Peachtree City.

"That takes a certain spirit of cooperation ... and I don't see that happening now with any level of cooperation," Boswell said in an interview Wednesday morning. "I know I can make a difference in that regard."

The area doesn't need "another Buford Highway or another Tara Boulevard," Boswell said. "If we don't try to have a positive impact, we'll just get what's doled out to us."

Boswell also sees a planning problem within Peachtree City with "roads leading to nowhere," specifically referring to MacDuff Parkway and the still-incomplete extension of TDK Boulevard into Coweta County. Building all the homes along MacDuff with only one ingress and egress point (Ga. Highway 54 west) was a mistake from a planning perspective, Boswell said.

Fiscal responsibility is important, too, Boswell said, in both what is spent and making sure the city fulfills its financial obligations such as the $1.5 million owed to Peachtree National Bank by the development authority from when it previously operated the city's tennis center and amphitheater. Since the city has benefitted from that loan, it should make sure the loan is paid off, said Boswell, who himself is the president of Piedmont Mortgage located in Peachtree City.

The Development Authority defaulted on the loan after the city canned the intergovernmental agreement that gave the authority $180,000 a year in subsidy from the city's hotel-motel tax. The authority and the city have been named in a suit filed by Peachtree National Bank to reclaim the money.

By fighting the matter in court, the city can expect high legal bills, Boswell said, adding that the city was giving the appearance that it wanted to "get out of the deal" because it might be able to do so legally.

"Argument is going to be expensive in itself," Boswell said.

Cooperation with the county and other governments is also crucial for financial negotiations such as the local option sales tax distribution, Boswell noted.

"Our inability to work deals out with the county," Boswell said, is also a factor in fiscal responsibility, and he said he felt a better relationship with Fayette County officials would help.

Management of the tennis center is also crucial, Boswell noted.

"The tennis center is a world-class facility that now has become a liability," Boswell said. If care isn't taken, the difficulties at the tennis center could drag down the amphitheater as well, Boswell added.

"If it continues to spiral like it's spiraling now, it's going to be a huge problem," Boswell said.

Boswell also noted the city's budget has grown to $29 million, which works out to about $700 per person. Because the budget is so large, extra care must be used.

Boswell said Peachtree City parents have traditionally been well-involved in school and recreation matters, and while he supports the idea of annexing the 350-acre tract on the west side proposed by John Wieland Homes, it's important to make sure there's plenty of recreation opportunities there for kids so other city rec facilities aren't overtaxed.

The main benefit from annexation is being able to control what is developed on the property, Boswell said. Fire protection is also key, and the county may have trouble providing that given the location of its fire stations, he added.

Boswell, 50, said he decided to run for mayor "to make a positive difference" for Peachtree City. He lives with his wife, Andrea, and their two children in the Avalon Park subdivision.

Boswell also praised the City Council for how it handled the creation and adoption of the indoor smoking ban ordinance. That was a difficult issue, he noted, particularly because of the potential affect it had on city businesses.

A native of Clayton County who has lived in the area his entire life, Boswell is also a distinguished past president of the Southlake Kiwanis Club. He spent four years on the Metropolitan Atlanta Private Industry Council, which provided job training and educational opportunities for employees affected by plant closings and the like.

Boswell graduated from Forest Park High School and has a bachelor’s degree from UGA in psychology. He currently teaches Sunday School at Braelinn Baptist Church.

Boswell is the third candidate to announce a run at the mayor’s post currently held by Steve Brown. Dar Thompson, the owner of the Fayette World Gym locations and Harold Logsdon, a financial planner, have also confirmed they will run for the seat.