Council clashes over 'domino hall'

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December 21, 2009

By Karen Middleton The News Courier Mon Dec 21, 2009, 07:50 PM CST

The Athens City Council clashed in a work session Monday over rental of the old “domino hall” across from the Chamber of Commerce office.

Three council members — Council President Ronnie Marks, Mignon Bowers and Milly Caudle — say rent the renovated building to the chamber for $400 a month as a Tourism office.

Two other councilmen — Harold Wales and Jimmy Gill — say it’s a bad deal, because the city spent $85,000 renovating what was once the city’s first electric department facility, not counting in-house labor, and they want a bigger return on the city’s dollar.

The council voted to introduce the rental agreement to be acted on at the Jan. 11 meeting.

“I cannot support this,” said Wales. “I think the chamber and Jeannette (Tourism Director Dunnavant) do a marvelous job, but we have sunk $85,000 into this building, and if you count labor, about $160,000.

“This is the taxpayers’ money and then we turn it over for $400 a month? We will never see a return on our money. I say keep it if we have to move our people into it out of city hall. I would think if you’re going to rent it, then ask $1,500 or $2,000 per month or else make it into city offices.”

Caudle said the city doesn’t need to get into the business of renting to outside entities and the city has needed the large meeting room in the back of the building for a long time.

“I know it seems like very little, but we don’t give the chamber nearly enough of what they need,” said Caudle.

Gill said, “I hate to spend that much money then turn around and give it away.” Gill also inferred that the agreement with the chamber had not been discussed publicly.

However, Marks said it has been discussed in previous meetings and no one asked to table it.

Wales maintained that $100 per week was “not a good return.”

Bowers countered with, “What is a good return on tourism?”

Gill retorted, “I wouldn’t rent to Barack Obama for $400 a month.”

Marks said Wales was mistaken in adding in labor in calculating the city’s investment. Public Works Director James Rich confirmed that workmen from that department worked regular hours and were paid regular wages.

“So many of our buildings need work and now we have the best building and we’re going to give it away,” said Wales.

Gill said there was no reason to table the measure.

“I’ll vote the same next week and the week after,” said Gill.

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