Questions and comments during the public comments portion of Union City council meetings often take the form of residents pursuing concerns about government accountability and transparency. The July 19 meeting was no exception.

Suni Patel, owner of Days Inn off Ga. Highway 138 near I-85, began her remarks stating that she had been in business for four years. She asked for information that would help her determine whether she should continue to operate a business in Union City. Patel asked how the hotel/motel tax her business pays has been used and what was being done to the city's eight hotels and 600 hotel rooms.

"I would like to know if their are any plans for nice, sit-down restaurants with liquor licenses coming to the area. Right now we have to send our customers to Fayetteville or Newnan in order to get a nice sit-down dinner and drinks," she said. "We haven't seen anything in four years that promotes and supports the hotels we have.

Responding to Patel's question, Mayor Ralph Moore said the city hosts the annual Mayor's Bike Race at Shannon Mall.

"The city hosts the bike race using your hotel/motel tax. We use that (money) every year to benefit tourism and economic development."

Event coordinators at this year's event put the number of cyclists at 450 along with family members and others that attended. Moore said participants came from around Georgia and the Southeast.

Patel said there is a miscommunication between and city and the local hotel industry.

"When the city is planning an event like that we are not getting any communication. With that many people coming to Union City they might need a place to stay," said Patel. "So with that said, I believe the city needs to communicate with the business owners a little bit more so we can plan better and provide better services for the guests that are coming into Union City and give them a positive image so they can become repeat customers for years to come. But the bike race alone is not generating the revenue to support businesses."

Patel suggested the possibility of having some type of sign near the expressway exits denoting local businesses. Moore said he had suggested earlier this year that a portion of the hotel/motel tax be used to construct a sign to highlight the presence of area hotels. He also noted the recent passage of a maintenance agreement for the proposed beautification of the entrance and exit areas at Hwy. 138 and I-85. The overall aim of the project would be to make business offerings on Hwy. 138 more visible to expressway travelers while making the area more attractive. Funding for the project, Moore said, would come from contributions from area businesses.

Addressing Patel's comments, recently hired City Administrator Terrell Jacobs said the local chamber of commerce might be able to address the concerns and work with her to benefit her business. Patel turned the issue