Improving infrastructure and attracting new businesses are top goals for members of the Ball Ground City Council this year.

Mayor Rick Roberts said as part of his focus on economic development, he wants to make the Downtown Development Authority a more active organization.

"We have fixed up the downtown. Now we need to promote it," he said. "I believe an active DDA is part of the secret to success for any downtown."

Councilman Lee Prettyman said the city is ready to work with new businesses interested in opening up in town.

"We are as flexible as we can be with everyone. It is just the economy that has got everyone tied up," he said.

Roberts said the city this year also will be improving amenities such as sidewalks and possibly a new fire station.

City Manager Eric Wilmarth said projects to extend sidewalks from City Hall south on Valley Street to the site of the new elementary school under construction and on Old Dawsonville Road from downtown to Calvin Farmer Park are in the engineering phase. Construction could begin as soon as in the spring.

"We could go out to bid in less than 30 days," Wilmarth said.

The city government also is waiting to hear back on applications for two other sidewalk projects.

It has applied for a grant from the state Department of Transportation to add sidewalks on Old Canton Road and Coy Holcomb Road and one for sidewalks on Civic Drive, Old Dawsonville Road and Valley Street. Wilmarth said the city should hear by late March on the first application and May or June on the second.

Roberts also wants to begin the pursuit of a new fire station for the city.

"We have pretty nice facilities in Ball Ground except the fire station," he said.

Councilwoman Andrenia Stoner said her priorities for 2011 are for the city to maintain its budget and "meet all our obligations."

"I'm just hoping the economy will grow," she said.

Council members said completing the downtown streetscape project was the big success in 2010.

Councilman Mickey O'Malley said he also was pleased with some improvements made to the ball fields next to the Community Center in downtown such as construction of a new concession stand, meeting room and dugouts.