City Council needs to explain why it needs to buy so much land

To the Editor:

Our city government is looking out for us again. Two weeks after meeting to discuss possible layoffs, city officials signed an memorandum of understanding that will lead them to borrow $1.75 million to buy 600 acres of land. I say borrow, but according to the city auditor, our City Council hasn't actually decided how they will pay for the purchase.

Why are we buying the land? We're told it's to protect our wellhead. It's difficult to argue with the importance of that. But since not all of the land is in the wellhead area, and there is no plan to buy every other piece of privately held land near the wellfields, you'll forgive me if I surmise it has as much or more to do with the University Estates development as it does our wellhead.

If you've watched council meetings, you've likely noticed the mayor, council president and several council members often appear to dislike development in general, and UE in particular. So, it doesn't really matter that many citizens of Athens wanted the land developed and wanted a golf course built for their recreation (which was to meet wellhead-protection guidelines). This, at least in part, is about winning.

Pay no attention to the income taxes the city will lose by killing this development, or to the property taxes the Athens schools will not receive. Our city government decided it must be done "“ and so it shall be.

Did you participate in a public debate about this major purchase, made with your money, before City Council acted? No, because there was no such debate. City Council, after providing the minimum notification required by law, held two back-to-back mid-week special sessions in June, one closed and one open. In the open session, council introduced, voted to waive the required three readings, and passed unanimously an ordinance authorizing the purchase "“ all in 25 minutes. Get the feeling they weren't concerned about citizen involvement?

The council president has been quoted as saying no further action will be required; the ordinance they passed was sufficient. Apparently, the deal is done. Now, all they have to do is spend more money defending the city against lawsuits these same officials predict will be forthcoming.

Do you think perhaps City Council needs more transparency and more fiscal discipline? I do.

Randy Morris
Candidate for Athens City Council, 4th Ward
Athens