Watching the pocketbook is priority No. 1 for the Ball Ground City Council in 2010.

Staying within budget is the top goal for city leaders, followed by projects such as improving the community center and new trails.

The city's 2010 budget is $1.5 million, which was reduced almost by half from the $2.7 million budget in 2009.

"We face a lot of challenges with the budget," Councilman Frank Homiller said.

Mayor Rick Roberts said the goal this year is to avoid the need to cut services.

"We are not out of the woods yet," he said about the economy.

Councilwoman Andi Stoner credits the city staff for a job well done despite all the cuts made so far.

"We just keep trying to survive. Hopefully, the economy will improve," she said.

Councilman John Byrd said his top priority this year is "keeping all the bills paid."

"You just have to be careful what you spend your money on," he said.

Byrd said he would also like to see residents have more opportunities to walk around the city.

"We'd like to do more sidewalks and walking trails. We are in line for some grants for that," he said. The council has applied for a Georgia Department of Natural Resources Recreational Trails grant.

The council is also excited to see work begin on improvements to the city's community center.

The city received $85,000 as part of the 2009 action plan for $850,000 the Cherokee County government received through a Community Development Block Grant by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"It is pretty rundown," Homiller said about the need for improvements to the community center on Civic Drive, which is used for various programs including the weekly meeting of the Ball Ground Senior Center.

Other goals for Roberts include helping the Cherokee County school board with the construction of a new elementary school in the city and locating a second water source for the city.

Completion of the streetscapes project was the biggest accomplishment for 2009.

The $1.15 million project included improved sidewalks, crosswalks and lighting. The last touch - a monument-style sign - should be added within the next month.

In 2004, the city was awarded $520,000 in funding from the federal Transportation Enhancement grant program to build the streetscapes in the downtown district from the intersection of Old Canton Road and Gilmer Ferry Road down Gilmer Ferry to Northridge Road.

In 2006, the city received another grant for $200,000 for the streetscapes. Last September, the council was given permission by the Georgia Department of Transportation to transfer a $200,000 grant - originally intended for sidewalks to connect Calvin Farmer Park to the downtown district - to the streetscapes project. The city government also contributed $230,000 in local funds to the project.

"Everybody loves them, even the people who were not too sure they wanted them," Councilman Lee Prettyman said about the feedback the council has received on the new sidewalks.

Roberts also listed as a 2009 accomplishment the passing of the city's ordinance allowing the sale of liquor by the drink in restaurants. The ordinance was crafted after city voters approved a referendum in November of 2008.