What began as a controversy in June ended last week as an amiable parting of the ways. Union City council members Aug. 21 voted to extend the lease for Kreative Kidz youth enrichment program, giving the organization until Nov. 31 to relocate.

Following the recommendation of city staff, the council extended the lease to give the organization adequate time to make modifications and relocate to its new site at Union Crossing Office Park on Jonesboro Road. The program had rented space from the city at the site of Georgia Military College for more than two years.

Commenting Thursday on the council’s decision, Kreative Kidz co-owner Jane Danko said she had been contacted by city staff, inquiring about the amount of time needed to relocate and verifying the dates to include in the extension.

“Things have worked out well,” Danko said. “We’re happy with the decision.”

Actions by the city, reportedly spearheaded in June by Councilwoman and recently created Union City Athletic Association (UCAA) board member Angelette Mealing to have Kreative Kidz shut down with less than one day’s notice created a firestorm of public dissent. Though on city property at Georgia Military College, the timing to forcibly vacate Kreative Kidz, a tenant for more than two years, was anything but coincidental, said a vocal group of parents whose children attend the enrichment program.

The council did give an end-of-summer deadline for relocation after Kreative Kidz co-owners Danko and James Rainer sought legal assistance after being given initial notice to vacate by interim City Administrator Ken Collins. A subsequent request to have that deadline extended and discussed during an open council meeting was denied by Mayor Ralph Moore.

Initial insistence by the city that it had no knowledge of the program even though the city had been paid a monthly rental fee, further fueled the wrath of many parents and became part of the current effort to recall Mealing and Moore.

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