Before too long, some LaFayette residents may be living it up — up on the second floor, that is.

LaFayette City Council is considering allowing residential property to be sold or leased on the second floor of buildings on the downtown square.

“It would be nice to have, but the expense of making your upstairs apartment or dwelling approved would be at the expense of the owner,” LaFayette Mayor Neal Florence said Monday night during the council’s regular monthly meeting. “All we would be doing is changing or amending the ordinance to allow for this if it meets the zoning requirements.

“The individual building owner would have to determine if it’s worthwhile to them,” he said.

Council member Andy Arnold said he has visited cities where upstairs living in the downtown area has been beneficial to the city.

“In small towns the size of LaFayette, some a little bit smaller and several a little bit bigger than us, where this has occurred in the downtown area, it has really revitalized many of those towns,” Arnold said. “Monticello is one. Decatur is another I’ve been to. I like the idea behind doing that. Now, whether it’s going to be economically feasible, that’s up to the owners in order to do that.”

Mayor Florence and the council members gave City Attorney Ron Womack the green light to begin investigating any changes that may be needed in the current ordinances.

In other City Council business Monday night: * LaFayette resident James Mashburn complained to the council about four manhole covers that were relocated to his yard near the U.S. 27 widening project south of LaFayette. Florence said he will check with state officials to see if there was remedy for Mashburn’s complaint.

* The council named Johnny Stevens as Employee of the Month.

* Council members approved a resolution adopting the joint city-county comprehensive plan update.

* Council members agreed to join the Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency Law Enforcement Initiative.

* Council members annexed the 34.76 acre property north of Wal-Mart into the city limits. The property is the site of the future Legacy Pointe subdivision that will contain 99 houses and 57 townhomes. The council also zoned the property residential (R-2).

* Council members approved the purchase of the a variable speed drive pump for the wastewater treatment plant. The cost is not to exceed $12,000.

* Council members signed a pole attachment agreement with Kentucky Data Link Inc., allowing the company to attach their equipment to poles within the city limits.

* Council members agreed to pay the 2007 estimated workers’ compensation premium to $364,897. Last year, the premium was $204,883.

* Council members approved bids for the recreation department to provide uniforms, equipment and photographs for participants.

* Council members appointed Ron Harrison to the Downtown Development Authority for a term ending in October 2010.

* Council members appointed Charles Wardlaw to the Historic Preservation Commission for a term ending Dec. 31, 2008.

* Council members awarded a $424,865 bid to Morton Construction of Lookout Mountain to build a clubhouse at the public golf course. The construction will be funded by the special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST).

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