Family of injured crossing guard urges flashing beacons as residents warn TDK extension would threaten school zones

A string of emotional public comments at the Peachtree City Council meeting pressed the city to strengthen school‑zone protections after a crossing guard was critically injured while on duty.

Suzanne Spatz, the wife of the Kedron Elementary crossing guard known to students as "Mr. Dave," described sitting at her husband’s bedside following a March 23 crash and urged the council to act. "We need flashing beacons that actually slow those drivers down. We need stricter traffic enforcement in every school zone. We need better lighting and clearer signage," she said, asking the council to make changes "so that no other family has to endure the pain that we have endured."

The remarks came during the public‑comment period after another longtime crossing‑guard speaker recounted a near‑miss on Kedron Road and reported that neighbors ranked flashing lights and greater police presence as the most effective safety measures. "Places that have these lights, it seems like it slows everybody down. They're aware. You can't miss them," the speaker said.

The public comments also included warnings about broader land‑use proposals. Resident James Clifton said a January 29 retreat recording — initially missing from the clerk’s office but later produced — confirmed council discussion of annexation, a possible data center, and extension of Ebenezer/Crosstown/TDK corridors. Clifton said those changes could route thousands of additional cars past quiet neighborhoods and directly in front of Oak Grove Elementary. "This extension would flood those peaceful roads with thousands of more cars every day, turning safe residential corridors into a noisy, high‑volume thoroughfare," he said.

Paul Schultz, another resident, disputed that a Coweta County annexation and conversion of the Bannister property into a data center was realistic. He outlined procedural and legal hurdles — a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) amendment, Coweta rezoning to industrial, public hearings, and cross‑county annexation procedures — and called suggestions it was imminent "structurally impossible."

Council members did not take formal action on the safety requests during the meeting. Staff have previously noted plans to replace school‑zone signs with flashing beacons across the district; council discussion at the meeting reiterated that those replacements are underway and will include middle‑ and high‑school zones.

The city manager and transportation staff said they will consider the public requests — including flashing beacons and enforcement changes — as the city pursues design and funding for safety projects tied to SPLOST and routine capital work.

Next steps: Council did not vote on any ordinance or funding at the meeting; staff will incorporate the safety requests into ongoing traffic and SPLOST project planning and bring recommendations back to council for formal action.