If Racetrac would like to be part of our community then it needs to think like a neighbor. The vacant building that is yards away from the site RaceTrac would like to buy used to be a Folks restaurant If you have seen a recently built Racetrac the design looks similar to the folks building. Racetrac could simply remodel the empty building (it is also for sale). This would save Racetrac money and save the trees on the other lot. That would be compassionate development. The Folks site is cleared and would be ready for bus. in a few month. This is what Ms. Pritchett should want for her ward. But instead she has no problem with Ractrac original plan. The original plan calls for clearing and bulldozing a beautiful lot, and the demolition of a building that would be perfect for 2nd Smyrna community center. Instead of a 2nd community center our mayor and council(in the new budget) wants to build a 5th fire station (waste) . It would be built with a grant an matching city funds but after the grant money is gone it will be our tax dollars they will use to keep the fire station going plus the 6 new salaried firemen. This grant could be use 2 ways. It could fund a new building or spread the money out to the existing 4 fire depts. Our hard working Fire Dept broke a record for quick 911 responses, we don,t need a 5th station because it is not needed. What is needed is to save our town from a bad zoning decision. We don't need a 6500 sq ft racetrac on spring road.

Donna, You miss the whole point on the fire station. First off the city can't use the money except for doing exactly what the grant states. There are no federal grants remodel fire stations. Nor or there are any that just allow you to hire firemen. This grant is to specifically build a new fire station and add the personel to man it. Secondly, If you lived in Vinings Estates, or are at the park on Oakdale road and had a medical emergency or had a motor vehicle accident on Veterans memorial then your closest hep would be coming from the fire station On south Cobb drive near Soth cobb Industrial boulevard. The citizens and visitors of Smyrna deserve more than they are currently getting. You have a fire station next to your house, these people don't. They deserve the same rapid response that you receive. Cheif Lanyon saw the need for help on the West side of the city and he brought this to the Mayor and council. They agreed and so do I. In an emergency, seconds count. I have never heard of anyone who is against improving public safety.For someone who states that she cares about children, you don't mind them laying on the ground, not breathing and waiting on medical attention.

Whitfield academy will be serviced by the new fire station. Can you just see a small child inside a burning house, looking outside an upstairs window and waiting on help. The closest fire station is five minutes away. Doesn't that concern you ?. Doesn't that child deserve the fastest response from the fire department the city can provide. The new fire station will save lives. Community centers don't save lives, Firemen do. God bless and MY sincere thanks to the men and women that do this job daily. And in Smyrna, we have the best fire department around. We have one of the lowest insurance ratings in this state. Mayor and council thanks for caring. Hurry and build the new fire station. You call it a waste, I call it excellent public safety. I invite you to go by station 4 and see what I am talking about. Drive from the fire station to Vinings Esates while holding your breath and see what it feels like when some has a heart attck and are waiting on the fire department to get there. I promise you that you will pass out before you get there. By the way, there is already a YMCA center in that side of town, next to a city park, that hardly anyone uses. Everone please Thank a Smyrna Firemen when you see one. They are here for only one reason, to save lives and they do a great job. God bless the mayor and council and Chief Lanyon for seeing the dire need for a fire station for our West side residents and school children. Remember seconds count.