It has been

less than a month since Senoia's new mayor and council took office, but

they're already having to deal with a political hot potato.

The latest

controversy engulfing the east Coweta town is the fate of the historic

Blue House at 49 Broad St. In early January, the council voted unanimously

to deny Chuck Smith permission to tear down the house so BellSouth could

buy the property for expansion of its facility.

But next week,

Smith is back before the City Council with a request to move the house.

He did not take kindly to the council's last action and spray painted

his home with messages to the council about taking away his rights as

a property owner.

Mayor Dianne

Cleveland said she doesn't know if Smith plans to move the house himself

or have someone else do it.

The issue has

dragged on for nearly two months and is drawing sharp responses from across

the town.

Senoia Area

Historical Society President Perry Benson said he didn't want to deprive

Smith of his property rights, but said the home represents one of the

reasons so many people are moving into the area.

Smith has maintained

he will give the home to somebody if they want it. He is paying a mortgage

on the home, along with the home he is living in, and just wants to be

free of the financial burden of making two house payments, he said.

The council

will discuss the issue Tuesday at 1 p.m. The meeting was moved from its

normal 7 p.m. Monday night slot because a representative will be on hand

from Rural Water Development to update the city on its municipal sewer

plan.