The Cumming City Council on Tuesday approved changing the schedule for municipal elections to comply with a state mandate requiring staggered terms.

The entire current council is up for re-election November 2011.

But winners of council posts 3, 4 and 5 will serve only a two-year term and must run again for election in November 2013, when a full, four-year term will be at stake.

Winners of the mayoral race and council posts 1 and 2 in November 2011 will serve four-year terms.

Also at Tuesday's meeting, council:

• Approved a demolition permit to tear down a group of dilapidating buildings by Hwy. 9 and Pirkle Ferry and Pilgrim Mill roads. All but an old service station will be razed.

Mayor H. Ford Gravitt said the building being saved has historic value, as it was one of the first service stations built in Cumming after the city got electricity.

• Granted a rezoning request to allow a six-resident personal care home in a single family residential structure on Mary Alice Park Road.
The Pair Family Trust/Carolyn Pair request included some minor conditions.

The city, which mandates the building be tapped into the city's sewer system, allowed a payment plan for the home instead of charging an up-front cost of $12,000.

Instead, the city will charge 12 monthly payments of $1,000.