Published Saturday, June 27, 2009

County info shared at Senoia town hall meeting

By Sarah Fay Campbell

The Times-Herald

Thursday's town hall meeting in Senoia included much more than a chance to speak with First District Commissioner Paul Poole.

Also on hand were representatives from the Coweta County Fire Department, Coweta Tax Assessors Office, Coweta Library System, and Coweta County Water and Sewerage Authority, as well as Development and Engineering Director Wayne Kennedy. There was also information available about the historic courthouse restoration project.

The meeting was more like a "county services open house," said Public Information Officer Patricia Palmer.

Thursday's meeting was the first in a series of meetings giving Cowetans the opportunity to talk to their commissioners in an informal setting.

The next meeting will be July 16. Third District Commissioner Randolph Collins will meet with residents from 6 to 8 p.m. at Madras Middle School.

The format will likely be the same as the First District meeting, Palmer said.

The Second District meeting with Commissioner Tim Lassetter will be held on Aug. 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Welcome Community Center. District Four Commissioner Rodney Brooks will hold his town hall meeting Sept. 29 at the Central Library, and Fifth District Commissioner Al Smith's town hall meeting will be Oct. 27 at the Clay-Wood Center.

"I'm so glad to have these people down here, to let us know what's going on," said Senoia-area resident Bill Roy at Thursday's meeting, held at the East Coweta Senior Center.

"I gathered some good information from the road department," Roy said, and he had a good conversation with the representatives from the tax assessors office. "They told me any time I had a question, just call them up."

Only about 20 people turned out for the event, but those who did learned a lot.

Ken Barnard of Senoia had a long conversation with representatives from the Coweta County Fire Department.

"I'm sorry there was not a better turnout," Barnard said.

"We came prepared to talk," said Assistant Chief Alan Smith.

"I want to thank the people that came," Poole said. "We had a good group of people here to answer questions."