From liquor by the drink to

a big population milestone, 2003 proved to be a big year in Coweta County.

When the year opened, residents

learned they would have the chance to vote on liquor by the drink in 2004.

Coweta County Commission decided to let the voters make the decision on

liquor in the unincorporated county.

Newnan currently allows mixed

drinks at restaurants that have at least 50 percent of their sales in

food. Commission chairman Leigh Schlumper, who led the referendum drive,

said she would like the county's ordinance to mirror Newnan's.

Other notable events in 2003

in the county were:

- The formation of a new

intergovernmental coalition. Dubbed the CIA, or Coweta Intergovernmental

Association, the new group was formed after numerous leaders at a government

retreat in Athens said the communication efforts between local governments

needed to be improved.

Coweta County Commission chairman

Leigh Schlumper, who helped organize the retreat, said the local government

leaders need to work closer together.

"We have a bigger obligation

to support each other," she said.

County Commissioner Robert

Wood has advocated an intergovernmental agreement for years and said there

is nothing the leaders can do to stop people from coming to Coweta County,

but they can help manage the growth.

- A near moratorium on

development in the county. In March,the County Commission decided to study

the growth, zoning issues and land use planning for six months.

During the study time, new

building permits and zoning applications would not have be considered.

An interesting clause in the

vote that ultimately derailed the study period was that all municipalities

had to sign off on the issue. The city of Newnan did not agree to the

terms.

- The county's population

numbers surpassed its neighbor to the east for the first time since the

1980s, according to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

During the period from July

1, 2001 to July 1, 2002, Fayette County added just 2,033 people, the Census

estimated, for a growth rate of 2.1 percent.

Fayette's population was estimated

at 96,611 on July 1 last year. Coweta County's was 97,771,for a growth

rate of 3.7 percent over the previous year.

Coweta added 3,699 people during

the period, the Census said.

- The county's first

foray into mass transit. The Coweta County Commission voted to enter into

an agreement with the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority to provide

an express bus service for the county. Coweta County will have to pony

up $850,000 in funds for the service, but in return gets $10.4 million

in funds to help fix dangerous intersections and roads, such as Lower

Fayetteville Road.

- The completion of the

deal to build The Coweta-Fayette Connector. The Fayette County Commission

and the Coweta County Commission signed off on a deal that provides local

funding for the road and allows it to be built quicker.

- An innovative approach

in dealing wil alternative septic systems. Growing increasingly frustrated

with the failure rate of alternative septic systems, the county passed

a zoning ordinance that requires each approved building lot to have a

site for a conventional septic system.

"We're not saying

you can't use alternative systems. You just have to have room for

a regular septic system," said county attorney Mitch Powell.

Since the state allows the

alternative systems, the only remedy county officials have is through

a zoning ordinance.

"We're just trying

to protect the homeowner," said Commissioner Larry DeMoss.