Union City just keeps on growing.

After a 30 day grace period

was given to the American Housing Group, Inc. to rethink sewage solutions

for 20 acres of land along Dodson Road, the group returned to seek approval

of its annexation plan at last week's Union City Council Meeting.

Two problems with the current

lift sewerage system held up progress on the project, but seem to have

been solved. The installation of a surge arrestor,which prevents lightning

from tripping the control panel, and purchase of a tensor probe, which

will replace the older floater system will cost the city nearly $10,000.

�The council was assured by

one of its staff members that the cost would not vary a large degree and

that a line item in the city budget would help fund the repair. Mayor

Ralph Moore didn't think the city should have to bear the cost. Representatives

from the American Housing Group offered to contribute $5,000 towards the

repair in order to move forward with the plans.

A motion was made by Councilman

Helen Turner that the application be denied and seconded by Councilman

Barbara Bohannon, but failed by a 5-2 count.

Two local residents also returned

to speak out against the 20 acre annexation. Jerry Morelock of 602 Dodson

Road and John Gray of 6125 Dodson Road reiterated their concerns. Morelock,

who lives across the street from the planned site spoke briefly complementing

the developers saying, "I heard the explanations which are great,

but as Harry Truman once said 'The buck stops here.' "

John Gray was more outspoken

and to the point. "These houses that are 1,400 square feet are very

much below the housing in our neighborhood. We all have three to 10 acre

lots."

Gray felt a more "responsible

decision" would be to upgrade the house sizes at least by one step.

"I feel this is downgrading

our neighborhood and I want to know why Union City can't get something

better than medium sized housing." Gray never received a direct answer

to that question.

The mayor asked for any other

comments before the motion was passed to rezone the acreage from Fulton

County AG-1 Agricultural to RMD-1 Residential Medium Density housing.

Consideration of the Alcoholic

Beverage Ordinance was bandied about next. The rewrite adopts the Housing

Authorities State Law that requires a distance of 600 feet between entrances

which sell liquor and those places of worship or public meetings.

The new rule intends as its

primary purpose to dissuade "the significant decline of our mall

area," Moore remarked. He pointed out a strong desire for more upscale

restaurants in the city.

"Business is business

for restaurants and they only come if they have liquor," he said.

After passing the amendment

which also included an increase of the liquor license from $500 to $550,

an alcoholic beverage application was approved for two gasoline-convenience

stores.