More greenspace, better cart access among concepts reviewed

A new group of architecture students from Georgia Tech who are plotting the potential future of Peachtree City’s village retail centers got invaluable feedback during a strategy session Wednesday afternoon.

The longstanding question about the closure of the railroad crossing at Valleywood Road in Tyrone continued Thursday night. Representatives from Georgia Dept. of Transportation (GDOT) were on hand to review the project again and solicit community input. Residents were there, at least most of them, to voice their opposition to the closure. The Town Council is expected to make a final decision on the matter in the next 30-60 days.

Due to rainy and cold weather the completion date has been adjusted for construction of the path connections leading to the bridge over the CSX railroad tracks along Ga. Highway 54.

Claims comments about staff levels misinterpreted

In a rather unusual move Thursday night, Peachtree City Councilman Eric Imker strode to the microphone during the public comment portion of the meeting ... to address his fellow council members.

There is still no resolution to the Fischer Crossings commercial development along Ga. Highway 54 just east of Fischer Road. Coweta County commissioners Feb. 2 voted 2-2 on changes to the conceptual site plan pertaining to an aquatic center on the north side of the property and questions about the access road situated behind the aquatic center and the theaters. Commissioners asked developer Scott Seymour to return Feb. 16 with additional information.  

A large group of Senoia residents at a public forum last year said they wanted to see another restaurant in the city that would serve breakfast. Enter the Fried Green Tomatoes Cafe. The Senoia City Council Monday unanimously approved a variance request for the restaurant destined for Main Street across from the post office.

It may seem like a small matter in terms of a change in procedure, but for those wanting to have input on decisions at meetings of the Coweta County Commission that small change can make the difference in having your say prior to the vote.

Charter Schools USA will hold a public forum Monday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Freeman Sasser Building in Senoia. School representatives will provide an update on the efforts of Charter Schools USA to establish a K-8 school in Senoia.

The City of Senoia was one of four recipients recognized last week by the Coweta Chamber of Commerce for their significant economic contribution to the Coweta community. The large group of business leaders and elected and appointed officials pictured outside city hall Wednesday include (from left) Ed Tigchelaar, Paul Lombardi, Scott Tigchelaar, Ellis Crook, John Barrow, Larry Owens, Bobby Graham, Jeff Fisher, Frank Hollberg, Robert Belisle, Greg Crook, Suzanne Helfman and Maurice Glover.

A dash across the railroad tracks didn’t stop a shoplifter from Walmart from being caught by Peachtree City police Wednesday morning.

Cellphone companies Tuesday night presented their case for the necessity of new cellphone towers to the Peachtree City Council and Planning Commission.

More than three dozen residents attended a budget meeting hosted by newly-elected Councilman Eric Imker Saturday afternoon at City Hall in Peachtree City.

The U.S. gross domestic product grew by 5.7 percent in the last quarter of 2009, but you could not see any improvement locally by the look of Fayette County’s jobless rate. That rate rose again last month and now sits at 8.3 percent.

Patrons of the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater’s summer concert series will soon be receiving their ticket renewal forms in the mail along with an announcement of this year’s acts for the season.

The effects of the recession are still being evidenced in Fayette County and Peachtree City. Fayette’s unemployment for December rose to over 8 percent while Peachtree City’s jobless rate rose to well over 7 percent.

The future of cellphone towers in Peachtree City will be discussed at a workshop meeting of the City Council Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m.

The Peachtree City Council has selected a design option for widening the existing cart path bridge that spans Lake Peachtree along Ga. Highway 54.

Cutting carbon dioxide would add costs to electric bill, other products

A bill in Congress touted as a way to improve the environment by reducing carbon dioxide emissions will hit Georgia folks in their wallets, according to Michael Whiteside, the former CEO of Fayette-Coweta Electric Membership Corporation.

Residents and business owners are being encouraged to respond to a survey initiated by Peachtree City staff.

Among the questions on the residential survey, the most telling answers might be found on the section about the 2010-2011 budget, which is facing a potential $3 million shortfall.

A space heater is being blamed for causing a fire that destroyed a trailer in downtown Tyrone last week.

The trailer, located adjacent to Tyrone Tire, caught fire Jan. 21 but no one was hurt, fire officials said. The resident had left the space heater on for several dogs while the resident was away, officials said.

Contingent attending trade show to increase corporate traffic

Atlanta Regional Airport Falcon Field in Peachtree City will be participating in National Business Aircraft Association’s (NBAA) 21st Annual Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference that will be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center January 27-29 in San Antonio, Texas.

There was no discussion needed last week at the meeting of the Coweta County Commission as board members unanimously approved a conditional use permit and buffer variance for Crossroads Baptist Church to construct a 14-acre recreation complex off Marion Beavers Road.

New figures released Thursday by the Georgia Dept. of Labor (DOL) show Coweta County’s unemployment rate up more than a percentage point in the past month. November’s 9.7 percent unemployment rate rose significantly to a rate of 10.8 percent in December.

Classes are underway and approximately 100 people attended the ribbon cutting Tuesday for Fayette County’s newest college. The first satellite campus of Atlanta Christian College (ACC) is located at 800 Commerce Drive in Peachtree City.

Coweta County commissioners last week approved $5,355 for the purchase of sound equipment for the courtroom and second floor of the historic courthouse in downtown Newnan.

A request by All Souls Church to construct an 8,400 square-foot building on Buddy West Road was denied by Coweta County commissioners last week on a 3-2 vote.

The Coweta County Chamber of Commerce at its 62nd Anniversary event Tuesday recognized four companies and governmental entities for their significant economic contributions to the community. Those receiving an Economic Prosperity Award included the Coweta County School System, the City of Senoia, D & H Distributing and the USDA National Detector Dog Training Center.

It was another episode of homes being evacuated due to flooding for some Tinsley Mill residents Sunday night. Some residents of the 10 Peachtree City homes returned to their residences Sunday night.