Businesses Properly Notified of Upcoming Vote for Cityhood

In a story that ran Tuesday, July 26 about the recent annexation attempts of surrounding cities, it was reported that the majority of businesses were not aware of the referendum that will come before a vote on Nov. 8 that, if passed, will make their businesses part of the new City of Peachtree Corners.

Our sources for the story indicated that neither the state nor the county was obligated to advise businesses of the upcoming referendum vote.

However, Rep. Tom Rice (R-Dist. 51) who introduced the legislation at this year's session of the General Assembly, pointed out that the affected businesses were properly and legally notified.

Rice pointed out in an email message, "before the legislation creating the city was introduced the law required that notice be posted in the legal organ of the County.  Therefore, notice was given in conformance with that requirement."

A copy of the notice that ran in the GDP in March 2011 is included with this story. Below is the veribiage that ran in the notice as well.

NOTICE OF INTENTION
TO INTRODUCE
LOCAL LEGISLATION
 Notice is given that there will be introduced at the regular 2011 session of the General Assembly of Georgia a bill to incorporate the City of Peachtree Corners; to provide a charter; to provide for boundaries and powers of the city; to provide for a governing authority of such city and the powers, duties, authority, election, terms, vacancies, compensation, expenses, qualifications, prohibitions, conflicts of interest, and suspension and removal from office relative to members of such governing authority; to provide for inquiries and investigations; to provide for oaths, organization, meetings, quorum, voting, rules, and procedures; to provide for ordinances and codes; to provide for a mayor and mayor pro tempore and certain duties, powers, and other matters relative thereto; to provide for administrative affairs and responsibilities; to provide for boards, commissions, and authorities; to provide for a city attorney, a city clerk, and other personnel and matters relating thereto; to provide for
rules and regulations; to provide for a municipal court and the judge or judges thereof and other matters relative to those judges; to provide for the court¹s jurisdiction, powers, practices, and procedures; to provide for the right of certiorari; to provide for elections; to provide for taxation, licenses, and fees; to provide for franchises, service charges, and assessments; to provide for bonded and other indebtedness; to provide for auditing, accounting, budgeting, and appropriations; to provide for city contracts and purchasing; to provide for the conveyance of property and interests therein; to provide for bonds for officials; to provide for prior ordinances and rules, pending matters, and existing personnel; to provide for penalties; to provide for definitions and construction; to provide for other matters relative to the foregoing; to provide for effective dates; and for other purposes.

Representative Tom Rice
District 51