The Rome City Commission approved on Monday a $50,000 option to buy a tract at 501 Turner McCall Blvd. for a turn lane onto North Fifth Avenue.

The project is part of the 2006 special purpose, local option sales tax package.

City Manager John Bennett said the option payment will be applied to the purchase price, which will be set by an appraisal, but “this ties the property up so they can’t do anything else with it.”

The tract, owned by Larry Martin, houses Ark’s Liquor Store.

Bennett said the city will wait for Martin to build and move into a replacement store before demolishing the structure.

“We’ll have about a six-month delay, but we’re saving money because we won’t have to pay him to go out of business,” Bennett said.

Also Monday, the board agreed to pay $110,000 for an .86-acre tract at 203 Cave Spring St.

The property adjoins a piece of city-owned land and is across from the South Rome Youth Center under construction on East Main Street.

“It’s a key corner,” Commissioner Norman Skidmore said. “I think it’s a smart move to control what goes in there, a sound investment for the community.”

Officials have no firm plans for the property, Skidmore said, although he noted the tract crosses Silver Creek and could be incorporated into the city’s trail system.

In other actions Monday, the Commission:

Approved beer and wine package and pouring licenses for the Rome City Market. Walter Adams said the business at 238 Broad St. is expected to open the first week of November.

Approved a liquor-pouring license for Hooters, at 104 Hicks Drive.

The new owner Brian Bowles said he plans a 1,600-foot expansion to house a full bar.

Approved beer, wine and liquor pouring licenses for Bobby McGee’s Country Food and Music Bar at 19 John Davenport Drive.

Approved licenses to sell packaged beer, wine and liquor at Mani’s Package Shop, 16 Chateau Drive.

Accepted an $8,000 proposal from Wood + Partners Inc. to develop a master plan for a 32-court tennis complex on Riverside Parkway.

The money will come from the 2006 SPLOST, which contains $500,000 to build 10 courts in the city.

A funding source for the other 22 courts has not yet been identified.