Senoia took

another step Monday toward opening its water plant.

City Council

accepted a grant for up to $6,000 from Georgia Rural Development to provide

floridation treatment and chemicals for the plant.

The grant does

not require any matching funds from the city, which made Councilman Bob

Hannah very happy.

"Free

money!" he said.

In the last

few months, the city has been putting together the pieces of the puzzle

to reopen its water plant and provide another source of water. The city

currently purchases all its water from Coweta County.

City leaders

started getting serious about getting back into the water business last

year, when they commissioned studies to see if the plant could be put

back in operation.

Officials were

worried that Coweta County could not provide all the city's drinking water

in the future.

County Commissioner

Lawrence Nelms wondered last year why Senoia would think the county would

not be a future option for water service.

"There

must be mass confusion out there," he said.

Commission

Chairman Vernon "Mutt" Hunter, who has locked horns recently

with Senoia Mayor Joan Trammell, said he would be willing to do anything

possible to help the city in opening its plant.

Trammell said

the water plant would not supply all the city's water needs.

"This

would just supplement our agreement with the county," she said.