The Fayette Youth Soccer League will get a $250,000 loan from Fayette County to complete five new fields on McDonough Road, a decision greeted with applause at the County Commission meeting last week.

Commissioner Scott Burrell noted that Fayette County is "fortunate to be financially stable enough to make our money work for us ... children and recreation may be a better investment" for county monies.

The loan would be paid back, with interest, over five years, according to the agreement between the league and the county. Commissioner Harold Bost said it was a rare opportunity to provide a facility "without cost to the taxpayers; it's a win-win situation."

The commission also approved a revised master plan for employee health coverage, bringing the county plan into compliance with federal regulations, according to Connie Boehnke of the human resources department. The changes have to do with the "portability" of insurance, COBRA requirements, mental health coverage and added protection for mothers and newborns, she added.

The commission directed Chris Cofty, assistant to the county administrator, to study traffic flow problems on Ga. Highway 279 between Ga. Highway 314 and Ga. Highway 138. Walter Robinson and Tonya Truesdale, representing the DixLee'On Civic Association, requested the county look at the situation because of the pending construction of a Roman Catholic high school at the north end of Hwy. 279 near Hwy. 138 and Old National Highway.

Truesdale said it is "very difficult now" to exit the DixLee'On subdivision, one of the older subdivisions in north Fayette, "turning either way." Because southbound traffic from Old National "narrows down from three lanes to one lane, it becomes quite congested," she said.

School buses are often delayed in entering Hwy. 279 from subdivisions along the road, Truesdale said, "and we know that the high school will add to the traffic, but we are in favor of the high school and want to work with them and with the county."

Appointments to the Fayette County Board of Health were tabled to a later meeting because some commissioners had received applications or nominations just before the meeting, said Chairman Robert Sprayberry.