Tom Martin has lived in Duluth 66 years. Needless to say, he’s proud of his hometown and prefers that it not be slighted, even in the least way.
Until recently, he was particularly proud of the attention Duluth bathed in during the PGA Championship Tour, which got under way this week. These days, the putts seen around the world that take place on a local golf course don’t have a Duluth address or ZIP code. They originate in Johns Creek, a community that incorporated a few years back, and whose boundaries encompass the Atlanta Athletic Club, which hosts the tourney on its Highland Course.
Recently, Martin, chairman and CEO of Gwinnett Community Bank, was guest speaker at the Duluth Civitan Club, a grass-roots group at work to improve the community. What Martin said in his delivery was part tongue-in-cheek and definitely nonabrasive. He simply spoke from the heart, proudly so, about what it had meant to have his town - even though the venue was in unincorporated territory, associated with the PGA Championship, now in its 93rd year.
“There was a point of pride in saying we have a major golf tournament in Duluth, Georgia,” he said, summarizing his Civitan talk for me. “Then the new city came along. I know Johns Creek’s reasoning and I can’t say I am totally against their concerns. I’m not upset about it, but I would rather the tournament was from Duluth, not Johns Creek. I have no animosity towards John Creek.”
Martin’s words were expressed civically, but they raise valid point that’s critical: How many towns, elected governments, county commissioners, mayors and council members does this metropolis need? When does the drive to incorporate communities into legit towns, to grow government and services, become counterproductive to the big picture?
AJC reporter Dan Chapman raised the issue recently in an in-depth story on the transportation tax, a sales tax referendum that could begin addressing North Georgia’s horrific traffic issues. A 10-county region will vote on the matter next year.
Within the region, we have as many towns as traffic signals. In Fulton, cities have been created for Sandy Springs, Milton and, more recently, Johns Creek. According to Chapman’s report some north Fulton residents want to “secede” and re-create Milton County.
In Gwinnett, 15 communities exist. The county may add another if a majority of the nearly 34,000 residents in Peachtree Corners vote to become a city this November.
Everybody wants their own little kingdom, their town with welcome banners, a city center and fountain. It’s taken, generally, as a sign of success and cohesion, but in this day and time, with downsizing and money too tight to mention, it might be loony.
No community needs more government. Probably less. Regardless, surely there’s a better way to settle issues related to service and equal allotment of taxpayer dollars than to map out another town.
And while that wasn’t what compelled Martin to say what he said in his speech, that message rang loud and clear.
Rick Badie, an Opinion columnist, is based in Gwinnett. Reach him at rbadie@ajc.com or 770-263-3875.
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