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Letter to the editor
Let voters decide fate of golf course
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Forsyth County News
After reading “Board talks golf referendum,” I can’t help but believe special interests are at work on our county commission.

For more than two years, the purchase of Lanier Golf Course has been the source of contention and gridlock on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners — causing delays and dissent on projects vital to our county’s continued prosperity.

In fact, Commissioner Harrell, who has voted to silence the voices of taxpayers by rejecting to hear them on the July 20 ballot, has consistently voted against his own district and against the Forsyth County Master Plan.

The Forsyth County Master Plan clearly states a need for four recreation centers by 2011. In March 2009, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 to move forward with the development of two of these necessary centers, with one center being located in Commissioner Harrell’s district. Over the course of the next six months, Commissioner Harrell voted five times to postpone or table funding the approved centers.
This is politics at its lowest — flip-flopping, deal making and vote trading.

The Forsyth County Master Plan, which was adopted by the Board of Commissioners, does not state a need for a county owned golf course.Why? There is no need. There is wide availability for public and private play across our community.

Yet, Commissioner Harrell continues to vote against his own district’s need for a recreation center — and continues to listen to the special interests that want him to bail out the golf course and its neighbors by footing taxpayers with the bill.

I believe voters are tired of bailouts and special interests. They are tired of the gridlock that accompanies holding one project hostage for another. They are tired of spending millions on frivolous projects instead of directing those funds to the things that matter most to residents: teachers, fire, police, and roads.

It is unacceptable that Commissioner Harrell, who claims to be a conservative Republican, has denied voters the right to have their voices heard and to vote on the purchase of Lanier Golf Course.

Brett Cragin

Cumming