POWDER SPRINGS - In her address to the Powder Springs Business Association on Monday, Mayor Pat Vaughn began by referring to her comments from the previous year's address: "Last year I had said, 'if we could survive the flood of 2005, we could survive anything.' Well, this year brought the flood of 2009."

While early last year, Vaughn was preparing to weather economic storms, Mother Nature brought the city of Powder Springs a different kind of challenge in 2009.

Vaughn said the flooding in September damaged 92 homes in Powder Springs, 16 of those substantially, meaning they cannot be rebuilt unless elevated.

"One of the reasons we survived," Vaughn said, "and I'd like to say thank you, is that we had the best of the best of city employees."

As for the economic storms, Vaughn seemed optimistic that the city was on track, despite its many cutbacks.

With the downturn of the economy, Vaughn admitted that the city has been forced to take several steps to reduce its budget. Among those cuts are a loss of two city positions and a reduction of three other positions to part time.

Vaughn was quick to report that they have not had to make any reductions in the police force, which she called the city's No. 1 priority.

The city has had to continue to delay several construction projects, including the Linear Park and Sidewalk projects, and the completion of the black box theater planned for the city's community center.

Vaughn did have good news to report on the completion of several other construction projects throughout the city, including sidewalks on Pine Grove Drive, Carter Road, North Avenue and Richard D. Sailors Parkway. Sidewalks on Florence and Macedonia roads are expected to be complete within the next few months.

Work on a pedestrian bridge on Old Lost Mountain Road is expected to begin in April and will be completed by the end of the year.

Also, construction on Atlanta Street near Powder Springs and Old Austell roads began right before Christmas, and is in the first phase of demolition. While the project has been slightly delayed because of weather, it will bring the installation of new storm drains, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and streetlights. It is expected to be complete before the end of the year and includes improvements on Old Austell Road, Dillard and Walton streets.

The Lewis Road project is ahead of schedule and will be completed in December.

Several other city improvement projects have been successful in the past year, including the city's recycling collection center at the Public Works Facility, which was re-instituted in August. Vaughn proudly reported that from August to December the city collected 18.16 tons in recyclables.

The police department will get a new home by the end of the year. Vaughn said the city closed on the purchase of the old ACE Hardware building on Richard D. Sailors Parkway. Construction is expected to begin within the next three to four months. The city's court service will remain in its current building.

Further, the city has begun its first phase of renovation to the historic barbershop in downtown Powder Springs on Marietta Street. The shop will house a new welcome center for the city and will be renovated throughout the next year or two.

Vaughn concluded her speech by saying she expects the city will continue to operate on major budget restrictions, but projected that they will not have to make any more major cutbacks, furloughs or layoffs.

"We will be happy if we can just keep our heads above water and keep the employees we currently have," Vaughn said.