The Flowery Branch City Council approved on first reading an ordinance that would annex Hollis Transport, allowing the trucking business greater access to sewer services.

The business, at 4515 Cantrell Road, is expanding.

“This is in our sewer district,” said Bill Andrew, city manager, “and in order to access more he’ll need to annex.”

It will also be necessary to rezone the parcel for trucking. The facility contains a food grade warehouse and has, among its customers, Wrigley and King’s Hawaiian, a producer of bread and baked goods.

Flowery Branch resident Dawn Holton, 45, expressed concern about the annexation, stating she had contacted Hollis Transport about excessive light, noise, lack of security and late-hours activity. Holton lives on an adjacent property with her parents, who did not support her objections.

Hollis Transport owner Brian Hollis said he has never had a conversation or met with Holton, and that the business gates are locked at 8 p.m., inaccessible to even him without a call to Wrigley, which maintains 24-hour surveillance at the site.

“In 2005, we bought a facility that had been a (hazardous material) site,” said Hollis, stating the company had taken a dilapidated building and invested $3.5 million into its refurbishment. “It’s a very clean, well-attended-to business,” he said. “We’re trying to be a good steward. We didn’t have to annex. I want to show you what Brian Hollis and our family stand for.”

A second public reading will be held Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall.

In other business, council “memorialized” its agreement with Hall County on solid waste assessments, agreeing to provide two reports a year on household usage of Red Oak Sanitation’s services. The city formerly provided one yearly.

The city’s financial audit results were provided by Walker and Associates.