The Columbus City Council is set to receive a report from engineer Kevin Stafford tonight regarding bids for the proposed soccer complex at Burns Bottom.
Stafford said Monday the bids had come in over the $2.9 million budgeted by the county for the park. The city doesn”t have any money budgeted for the park but donated a portion of the land where it will be constructed.
The Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority board of directors decided Monday to take the bids under advisement and meet with the city, county and Columbus Light and Water to inquire about possible in-kind services. CLRA Director Roger Short said some elements of the soccer complex plan may be removed to lower the cost.
The lowest bid received came in at $4.6 million.
The council tonight also will get its turn to publicly address concerns over a city ordinance, which created the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau tonight.
City Attorney Jeff Turnage will present his findings on the 1986 document, which has caused a stir among Lowndes County supervisors split on whether it should immediately reappoint its expired appointments to the CVB board of directors or wait to see if the city chooses to redraft the ordinance.
At issue is the apparent lack of an interlocal agreement between the city and county regarding the management of the CVB. The city ordinance gives equal power to the city and the county, but the county never adopted any ordinance of its own.
Turnage has researched city documents surrounding the creation of the CVB and will offer a report to the city council and answer its questions regarding the ordinance.
At its Monday meeting, the Board of Supervisors appointed Board Attorney Tim Hudson and County Administrator Ralph Billingsley to a committee to meet with the city and CVB representatives to discuss drafting an interlocal agreement. The council may appoint its own committee tonight.
In other matters, Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin will present maps of several proposed entertainment districts.
The entertainment districts program is offered through the secretary of state”s office to provide tax breaks to businesses undertaking new or renovating construction. The catch is the business must sell tickets for a service or product at a minimum of $2 per ticket.
Gavin said areas currently under consideration for entertainment district status include downtown near the Trotter Convention Center and old Varsity Twin theater and a portion of Seventh Avenue North.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.