A new bill may one day be in

the mail for the 33,000 residents of Fayette County's largest municipality.

Peachtree City took the first

step last week toward joining Griffin as one of the only governments in

the state to address rainfall runoff and flooding issues by way of a stormwater

utility. City Council authorized spending $12,750 to fund a feasibility

study on the issue. [See related column on Page 4A.]

City Engineer Troy Besseche

suggested using the city's Public Improvement Project contingency fund

to pay for the study, which itself will determine the best way of financing

the proposed new city agency. If the city decides to go ahead, the new

agency would function similarly to the water and sewer authority.

"Is this money well-spent?"

asked Councilman Dan Tennant.

"Certainly," replied

Besseche.

Subsequent steps in the process

will be to determine billing procedures and make recommendations based

on priorities, infrastructure needs and maintenance burdens, Besseche

told the council.

In any scenario, it will take

time to establish the utility, which would charge all property owners

within the city certain fees depending on how much stormwater runoff their

property creates.

In neighboring Spalding County,

Griffin, which has received widespread attention for its successful utility,

spent five years getting it up and running.

Columbia County outside Augusta

and the city of Decatur recently joined Griffin by forming stormwater

utilities. Several other governments across the state are considering

the approach.

In other business Thursday:

·The council approved

a request from the county of lower the water level in Lake Peachtree in

November and December for routine dock and shore maintenance;

·The council OK'd an intergovernmental

agreement with the county for the reconstruction of Stallings Road, an

unimproved, narrow gravel road adjacent to the CSX railroad tracks just

south of Falcon Field. The city will be responsible for installing curbs

and gutters, as well as relocating utilities, among other things. The

work is being funded through the Airport Authority under an earlier agreement.

· The Council approved

a name change on the alcohol beverage license for Hangar 74 bar and grill

on Ga. Highway 74 North at Wisdom Road.

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