By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

Fairburn's planned new wastewater treatment plant may be moving to a new location.

During Monday night's City Council meeting, Ann Miller, who lives near the site on Bohannon Road, asked the council to slightly change the location.

Miller had approached the council last month about the issue and said she believed it was something that can be changed by the council.

Miller explained the treatment plant will be situated just 250 feet from her property line and said the city owns plenty of property to move it more toward the center of the site and away from her home.

George Hart, who represented the Line Creek Community Association, said he is proud of the work the council has done so far on the plant, but believes the city can do better.

"Whenever you mention wastewater treatment plant, people see toilet paper in the trees. But you've been accessible and I urge you to consider moving the site," he said.

Councilman Harvey Melear said he was ready to vote on the issue, but Mayor Betty Hannah said the city would be receiving information from the engineering firm at the next meeting.

City Administrator Tony Cox said the city had studied four sites on the property to locate the plants. The engineering firm of Keck and Wood said the site near Miller's house was the best location, so the city accepted it.

"They said it would be the most efficient use of the property," Cox said.

The wastewater treatment plant is still winding down its initial phase of acceptance by the state Environmental Protection Division.

In conjunction with House Bill 489, all municipalities in Fulton County must agree to let the plant be built. Cox expects that approval within the next couple of months, but doesn't expect the plant to be operational until 2003.