Being Good Neighbors

While the question of surviving as a city is faced by many small municipalities in these difficult economic times, I am confident the vast majority of citizens in the City of Mountain Park want to remain exactly what we have been since 1927. As one of the cities in the original Milton County, we are not looking to give up what some areas of North Fulton only recently have acquired. The only thing we would ask of Roswell is to continue to be what it has been up to this point, a good friend and a nice neighbor which we do appreciate.

Jim Still, Jr., Mayor
Mountain Park

Roswell’s Race Heats Up

In last week’s Beacon, Council member Lori Henry criticized my management of Roswell’s Budget. In judging my record as Mayor, it is better to review the facts than Ms. Henry’s claims.

Under my leadership, Roswell has cut its property tax millage rate 17%. We have reduced the number of city employees per capita 26% and cut operating costs by 5% adjusted for inflation. We invested $101 million in parks, city buildings, and other capital projects and grew our investment funds from $24 million to $65 million. We earned a AAA bond rating, the first city in Georgia to do so. I am proud to say that Roswell is the best run city in Georgia.

Ms. Henry wrongfully accused me of deficit spending. I did vote to spend $1.1 million from our $27 million reserve fund to purchase 22 new police cars, but all operational expenses for 2010 are covered by conservative estimates of anticipated revenues. Roswell will not have to borrow one dime to fund 2010 expenditures.

Ms. Henry bragged about voting to cut $1.2 million from the budget but left out the fact that one week earlier she approved adding $2.2 million to my proposed budget.

Ms. Henry argued that Roswell should furlough employees as Governor Purdue is doing. If the State of Georgia were as well run as Roswell, they would not have to be cutting employees’ time and pay to balance their budget. Just as Joseph advised the Pharoah to save in time of plenty, Roswell set aside sufficient reserves to make it through today’s economic famine, even if it lasts seven years.

It was interesting to learn that Ms. Henry, who did not join the local party until last year, now claims to be the only true Republican in the Mayor’s race.

Mayor Jere Wood,
Roswell

I read with interest Lori Henry’s comments last week. Her self-proclaimed label of ‘fiscal conservative’ might ring louder if she were running for US Congress, but she is running for Mayor of Roswell – one of the best fiscally managed municipalities in the country. The 2010 budget represents a decrease of $ 9.8 million or 8.6% vs. 2009 – a significant and responsible cut that reflects the city’s goal of ‘living within its means’. The city has a budget reserve of $27 million, $12 more than its reserve goal – and way more than most cities, anywhere.         The fact of the matter is, at the end of the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the city will still have a projected surplus, in its reserve fund, of $27 million. That is a surplus, not a deficit; therefore, her opponents are hardly ‘deficit spenders’ as she claims. Fiscal management is a non-issue in this race. The real question is, which candidate is best equipped to lead the city over the next four years, through the worst economy in our lifetime? Being Mayor of Roswell entails more than just voting NO to most zoning requests. What Roswell needs to take us through 2013 is someone who has demonstrated that they listen to all voters; can work with small businesses, large corporations, and community groups of all stripes; and be regarded as a peer by regional political leaders to advocate new ideas and get things done, such as solving our transportation problems. That person would be our current Mayor, Jere Wood.

Bruce Peoples,
Roswell

Isn’t it amazing how politicians start addressing things just before elections - better late than not at all. I am certainly glad to see someone else is finally looking at the crime stats and addressing the crime issues in Roswell.

The pathetic fact is that over the last twelve years under the tutelage of Mayor Wood violent crime has doubled.

Police calls for service has gone from 40,000 to 120,000 annually.

And last but not least of the 3,956 arrests in Roswell during 2008, 22% were illegal aliens.

And Councilman Tolleson and Councilwoman Henry have both been the council members responsible for the Public Safety during this time frame. Hello!

Lee Fleck
Roswell

Parks Needed in Johns Creek

It was disappointing tonight watching and listening to our elected mayor and city council of Johns Creek deny the community badly needed athletic fields hiding behind the comprehensive land use plan.

Sure we voted to become a city to control development and zoning long ignored by our Fulton County Commissioners, but we elected a city council to make tough decisions for the good of the entire community. Council Member Bev Miller said “we need athletic fields, but not here.” If not here, where? Ms. Miller says, “in a commercial or industrial zone.” Please tell us where that will be. Will Johns Creek Technology Park donate or discount land for the city? John Smoltz will win 20 games again before that happens.  Maybe the city can condemn Dean Gardens or the Atlanta Athletic Club property. I think not.  Ms. Miller also said, “If I vote for this (special use permit), I’ll be voting for another one next time.” Why? Council voted yes for the Mt. Pisgah privately owned facility (in a residential area) and voted no on this one.

Johns Creek may have the best schools, but our children are forced to use subdivision fields or neighboring cities facilities for sports. Will the day come when adjacent cities parks and athletic programs are so crowded they only allow residents to participate or will we have to pay a bigger premium than some already require for our kids to play?

Johns Creek City Council missed a golden opportunity tonight to raise the level of our parks and rec program closer to the quality of neighboring communities. Maybe council voted no because the city wouldn’t have total control over this park. Whatever the reason, our children lost tonight. Ask anyone involved in youth sports in Johns Creek and you’ll understand.

Bill Magyar,
Johns Creek