Improving traffic flow and recreation services are among the top priorities of the Canton City Council for the coming year.

One goal for 2010 is to see the installation of a traffic light at the intersection of Highway 20 and Northside Hospital Parkway at the Canton Marketplace development.

"We've got the money. We just don't have the permission," Mayor Gene Hobgood said about hanging a light at the intersection. The city is waiting on approval for the Georgia Department of Transportation. The city and state "both have a responsibility to make it as safe as possible."

Residents of the Governor's Walk neighborhood have lobbied city officials for relief from an intersection they say is too dangerous.

Councilman John Beresford said he wants to see a trail connecting Heritage and Boling Parks constructed this year.

"That will have a multi-faceted impact on the city," he said.

Councilman Bill Bryan said the trail would increase awareness of the Etowah River and "the great asset it is for our community."

"There are a number of people who enjoy finding a quiet place," he said about another benefit of the trail.

Councilwoman Pat Tanner said in addition to the trail, she wants to see a ground-breaking this year for the city's planned park on Brown Industrial Parkway. The park will include baseball fields as well as softball, multi-use soccer fields and tennis and basketball courts.

"I want to break ground so that people will see it is a reality," she said.

Hobgood said the city government this year would also work on streamlining its meetings and purchasing mitigation property to complete the Hickory Log Creek Reservoir.

As soon as next month, the council could advertise a request for proposals for companies to perform a study of the water and sewer system, including a rate study, he said.

"We simply don't know how much our system is costing us to run and maintain," he said about the need for the study.

Councilwoman Amelia Rose said keeping an eye on finances is also an important issue for the council. The city government is getting "back on our feet, and I want us to stay on our feet," she said.

Councilman Bob Rush said he wants to see the city extend its alcohol pouring hours for restaurants from midnight to 2 a.m. That issue, which was recently reviewed by the council's alcohol committee, is scheduled to come before the full council for consideration next month.

"It is costing the city money," he said of the early last call for alcoholic drinks. "We need more commercial establishments in town."

Councilman Jack Goodwin has proposed conducting downtown town hall meetings each quarter to talk with city residents about what their needs are. He said he is looking to schedule the first meeting in March.

He said he also wants to add heart defibrillators to every city police department patrol car, with funding coming from a private source.

Offering more community events in the city to bring in visitors and starting a recycling program are other goals, he said, noting at the same time, the council needs to find waste to cut from its budget.

Goodwin said he also wants the council to look for funding to increase parking downtown.

"It gets crowded," he said, especially on days when court is in session at the Justice Center. "We need a parking deck."

The biggest accomplishment for the city last year, according to the mayor and council members, was hiring Scott Wood as the city manager. Hobgood filled in as city manager during a six-month stretch last year after Rob Logan returned to the financial director position.