Things are

looking up for the Peachtree City Development Authority, Mayor Steve Brown

admits.

"The Tennis

Center has gone from just over $150,000 in red ink to $41,000 in less

than a year," Brown said. "That's their projected negative balance

for the end of the year."

Still, Brown

-- a near-constant critic of the authority's business tactics since taking

office nearly two years ago -- doesn't see an end to the conflict anytime

soon, particularly when it comes to finding the most efficient way to

get rid of the authority's estimated $2.5 million in long-term debt.

That will likely

be the main topic when councilmembers and the board sit down casually

on Thursday, to iron out their problems, and some long-range solutions.

The joint meeting

is set for 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at City hall.

"Hopefully

this is the culmination of a lot of talking that's been going on between

the authority and the city council," said Tate Godfrey, DAPC Chairman.

"We've got a lot of issues outstanding, not the least of which is

our debt status. We're going to talk about how to get rid of that and

set the authority in the director to go forward"

Godfrey said

subcommittes within the DAPC recently addressed individual areas to fix,

but with the city's help in many cases. For example, a line of credit

through Regions Bank is ripe for refinancing, which could save thousands

of dollars in interest payments. But the council must give it approval,

first.

"We really

need to get to the point where we're all on board." he said.

Brown said

he's proud of the progress.

"If anything,

I think my putting the pressure on them to develop a system and create

a more business-like atmosphere has really helped," the mayor said.

"I just wish they'd come out and say, 'Hey, we did some things, it

just didn't come out the right way."

In recent years,

the Development Authority has turned its primary focus to management of

the city's two largest public venues, the Fred Brown Jr. Amphitheater

and the Peachtree City Tennis Center, and spent less and less time actually

pursuing economic development opportunities for the city.

"I still

don't achieve the goal that I sought in the first place, which is how

do I get a group that does nothing but economic development?" said

Brown.

Meanwhile,

Godfrey said the authority's newest member appears to be well-qualified

and anxious to hit the ground running.

Originally

recommended as an alternate, Bill Bexley was named to the vacant seat

nominee withdraw his name.

"I met

Bill for the first time at our meeting Monday night and was very impressed,"

Godfrey said. "He seemed very thoughtful, he wants to get in there

and learn. I was encouraged by his whole demeanor. I think it was a great

meeting."