Problems with Mayor’s thoughts
In the Chapel Hill News & Views magazine there is a section called Thoughts From The Mayor where the Mayor Mickey Thompson submits an article each month for the public to read. The articles are very informative to those who live within the City of Douglasville as well to all in Douglas County. In the current article the Mayor talks about the controversial SPLOST referendum and the City's proposal to use the new funds if passed.
Impact Fees are briefly mentioned as a way to combat the need for money to support to roads and facilities. Also there was a little piece about a new park for the City. The Mayor went on to say:
Chapel Hill News & Views, Vol. 7 No. 7 July 2006, Page 64
The City of Douglasville government must be able to continue to improve transportation facilities in this community. And since the proposed SPLOST program to be before the voters on July 18 does not offer opportunity for gaining local funds for street and sidewalks, I think the City must implement Impact Fees as soon as possible…certainly before the end of this year.
In actuality the new SPLOST referendum does offer funds for streets and sidewalks. According to the official documents (Execution Copy & Qualified Voters packet) for SPLOST the City of Douglasville will receive $951,000 for projects consisting of "road, street and bridge improvements, including the acquisition, design and construction of intersection improvements, sidewalks, bicycle paths and trails".
However, according to Mayor Thompson the $951,000 in funds is "for street improvements. And that is why Impact Fees must become a revenue source for the City of Douglasville". The City of Douglasville would receive $12,664,653.96 from the new SPLOST referendum if passed by the voters.
Another problem within the article was the City making a new priority to provide a new park below Interstate 20 for residents near the Chapel Hill area. According to the Mayor, "we would have $2 million to acquire land and do the first phase of a development plan". Today the City of Douglasville does have a newly acquired park in the Chapel Hill area - Fowler Field Park / Soccer Complex. It is part of the park system for the City per the Parks & Recreation web page.
Fowler Field Park has been mentioned before by the Mayor in Chapel Hill News & Views as being stated as a City park.
Chapel Hill News & Views, Vol. 7 No. 2 February 2006, Page 52
Also, we talked about the completing the work already underway at the City-owned West Pines Golf Course and at the recently acquired Fowler Field Park where lighted soccer fields are being installed.
Chapel Hill News & Views, Vol. 7 No. 3 March 2006, Page 59
Fourth, a search for a new park acreage led the City some months ago to consummate arrangements with the Fowler family and a private developer for a new City park on Chapel Hill Road. Fowler Field for some years had been the site of soccer activities, but that facility needed many improvements. The Fowler family agreed to donate some 20 acres to the City, and we pledged to work with the developer for the new adjacent Villages at Brookmont community to upgrade this park for soccer.
Part of the work was completed in 2005, and the rest is being completed at this time. The developer Falling Water, Inc., agreed to build a restroom/concession facility, underground detention pond, and parking lot, as well as contributing $40,000 for a field lighting system. The City has paid for the various improvements in Fowler Field Park and has provided the remaining funds for the lighting system.
Fowler Field Park is a great example of cooperation of a local government, the private sector, and an athletic organization!
Just recently did the lights for Fowler Field arrive on location and pieces are marked City of Douglasville. Before this time the only work done to the park from the City was cutting the grass. Its been three months since the March article and work is just now starting during a holiday weekend.
The question to ask is why is the City going to spend all $2 million of the parks and recreations part from SPLOST on a new park when improvements to existing parks need to be dealt with. One example is the City's unwillingness to protect and preserve the F-105 memorial at Hunter Park. For a man who gave up his life flying over the deadly skies of Vietnam, this is how we honor Mr. Hunter after all these years by not properly maintaining his memorial? It is not only him that is honored, but the men before him who have been lost in battle. Does the City have it's priorities right?
And what if the SPLOST is passed and the City does use all $2 million for a new park, where will this park be located? Besides Fowler Field Park there is the controversial Anneewakee Creek Greenway Project which has plans for the City to make a park on Stewarts Mill Road. This is certainly in the key area where the City wants to build but the land is already in the ownership of the City. In reality there could be 3 City parks below Interstate 20 instead of one like the article suggests.
Why hasn't the Douglas County Sentinel, the Douglas Neighbor, Chapel Hill News and Views or any other media outlet addressed these statements? Why aren't issues like these being reported? Shouldn't the media act like a watchdog upon government? Are they afraid of controversy?
Here is part of the Douglas Story in its truest form - when we look at a discolored truth we keep losing Georgia without knowing it. Now you know the story, what do you plan to do?
