Fairburn Utilities'

customers will soon be paying a 27 percent higher bill for their cable

service.

The fairburn

City Council unanimously passed an increase in the cable rates Monday

night. City administrator Tony Cox said the City Council had been wanting

to adjust some of the fees for months.

Since Cox is

leaving in the middle of April to pursue another job in Virginia, he suggested

the City Council go ahead and handle some of the old business while he

was still in office.

The new rates

increase from $17.50 for expanded basic coverage to $22.25. Premium channels

go from $7.50 per month to $8.50 per month.

If a customer

wants a premium plus package, featuring 11 movie channels, the charge

increases from $19.95 a month to $21.50 per month.

Internet fees

remained unchanged at $25 a month.

The City Council

also wanted to know what it could do about a new development at the intersection

of Ga. Highway 74 and Senoia Road.

When the City

Council approved the plan for a gas station and convenience store, it

stipulated an old house on the property must be torn down before construction

could start.

But the building

is already under construction, which had City Councilman Harvey Melear

hopping mad.

"I want

a stop work order until that house is torn down," he said.

But city attorney

Brad Sears said he had already talked with the developer and explained

the building would not receive a certificate of occupancy until the house

was torn down.

The council

unanimously supported a motion reiterating Sears thoughts and said no

other permits would be granted to the developer.