New Businesses for the New Year

Plans to construct a brand-new type of service station were approved during the final 2011 meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the Thursday evening.

A 14,360 sq. ft. Pep Boys retail store and automotive center will be built at 3638 Cobb Pkwy. NW. Although there are Pep Boys stores in Cobb County, this new Acworth facility will be the first of its kind, combining a garage for automotive repair and a store to buy parts and accessories for automobiles.

“I like hearing, 'The first store of it's kind will be located in Acworth,'” said Mayor Tommy Allegood on hearing the proposal submitted by David Brandes and Kristin Martin on behalf of Pep Boys.

Acworth Community Development Director Christine Dobbs said that her staff had approved the site plan, and the board unanimously approved the construction of the site.

During the public comment session, Scoutmaster Dave Peters came before the Mayor and Board to complain about a parking ticket he received in his neighborhood. He was cited for parking on the wrong side of the road and for parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. Peters contends that he was nowhere near a fire hydrant, and took photographs to prove his point. Allegood confessed that he was not fully up to speed on this law and that Peters should contact Chief Michael Wilkie for further clarification.

More Acworth Warrior football champions were recognized at Thursday's meeting. The six and seven-year-old Warriors both won their Northwest Georgia Youth Football League (NWGYFL) Division I Super Bowls, and the seven-year-old won the state championship. Each player and coach was awarded a certificate and shook hands with the aldermen.

Director James Albright was named NWGYFL Coach of the Year after leading the seven-year-olds to the heights of football glory.

With the exceptions of two items, Thursday's consent agenda passed unanimously. Alderman Tim Richardson voted against the following:

• A request to the legislature to amend the Lake Authority Act that will change the membership qualifications and quorum requirements.
• A request to the legislature to amend the Tourism Act that will change the membership qualifications and quorum requirements.

Other notable items on Thursday's agenda are as follows:

• A $29,000 purchase order has been issued for Phase II of the Senator Russell Avenue SPLOST project.
• The city will buy the property at 4759 S. Main St. from Toor Investment, Inc. at a cost of $150,000 for the purpose of expanding parking in the downtown area.
• Several police cars and two SUVs will be declared surplus and sold to the highest bidder.
• A 60-foot bucket truck will be purchased for $197,633 from Altec Industries, Inc. Additionally, financing has been authorized through the Georgia Municipal Association direct lease program for a term not to exceed five years.

The entire agenda may be found here.