The city of Senoia reluctantly agreed Monday night to send the Environmental

Protection Division $12,000 after it was cited for two violations.

The first violation occurred when the city cleared a giant kudzu patch

at the intersection of Ga. highway 16 and Pylant Street. The city wants

to use the land as a future park, but EPD officials did not like the way

the city cleared the property.

Officials at EPD said the city did not notify the state that it was going

to clear the property and that it did not install proper fences to protect

a nearby stream from runoff. The agency slapped the city with a $5,000

fine.

The second violation occurred during the city's ongoing sewer system

construction. The city was cited for violations of the Georgia water Quality

Act and will have to pay $7,000.

But Senoia Mayor Robert Hannah said all is not lost.

"We're going to go after the contractor to pay that fine," he

said.

Hannah said the city had no choice in paying the fines, but said that

all future construction efforts would be more closely monitored.