By CHARLOTTE PERKINS
Journal Staff Writer
After discussion Monday night at their work session, the Perry City Council voted Tuesday night to contribute $500,000 to the state’s Go Fish educational center at the Georgia National Fairgrounds.
The discussion and vote followed a tour of the facility led by Department of Natural Resources Officials including Commissioner Chris Clark. Mayor James E. Faircloth noted that $19 million has already been spent on the facility, which includes aquaria for Georgia fish and a hatchery, and that another $4 million is needed for completion.
The city, which Faircloth said at the meeting “is broke”, will borrow the money from the Houston County Development Authority and pay it back with income derived from an addition 1 percent hotel and motel tax. The Development Authority will also make a contribution. The single purpose tax on hotel/motel use will end when the half million dollars is raised.
The expenditure was approved unanimously.
Mayor Faircloth also said at the pre-council meeting that he was concerned that the Houston County Development Authority is not as well-funded as other development authorities in counties of similar size, and that he has talked with Houston County Commission Chairman Ned Sanders about this, and hopes to see the HCDA better funded.
The city will sell a parcel of land at 301 Marshallville Road which was donated several years ago, and originally planned as green space.
In other business, the council approved an ordinance to rezone 5.025 acres of land owned by First Christian Church so that the church can put up a larger sign. They also approved a beer sales licenses for Raceway 948, 1515 Sam Nunn Blvd. because of change of ownership.
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