The city of

Senoia took a big step Monday night toward the implementation of impact

fees.

The City Council

approved spending up to $27,000 for the initial studies of drafting an

impact fee ordinance. Three parties will be involved in the process; city

planner Bill Johnston, city engineer Ben Turnipseed and the consulting

firm of Ross and Associates.

For more than

a year, the City Council has been wrestling with the issue of impact fees

and debating whether it would be a good way to pay for the infrastructure

improvements that the city's growth is causing.

In a presentation

last week, Ross told the Senoia City Council that planning was the key

in creating a successful impact ordinance.

The city would

have to create a capital improvement element, which would show what infrastructure

needs are needed from the new growth.

Ross cautioned

that impact fees could only be charged for the new infrastructure needs,

and not anything the city already needs, but can't fund.

Impact fees

can only fund system wide upgrades, such as water systems, wastewater

treatment plants, road, emergency services facilities and personnel and

libraries.

Mayor Dianne

Cleveland said the city is eager for the impact fee process to begin,

and is anxious to see the study's results.