Commissioners Talk Classic Center, Budget

The architects responsible for designing the proposed expansion of the Classic Center are already modifying their design based on public input received at a meeting Tuesday, County Manager Alan Reddish told Commissioners.

The expansion, which Commissioners are expected to vote on in early June, was the subject of some questions by commissioners at Thursday night's agenda setting meeting.

Commissioners expressed reservations about the amount of retail space on the Foundry Street side of the expansion, as well as concerns about how the closure of one block of Hancock Street would affect traffic flow.

Commissioners also discussed the upcoming budget, reviewing their recommendations to fund independent agencies at the previous year's level, a change from Mayor Nancy Denson's proposed 2% cut.

Reddish cautioned commissioners that future budgets would need to be further cut to avoid tax increases, and that those cuts would likely involve cutting jobs or benefits. About 70% of the budget is spent on salaries and benefits.

"That 70% piece has to be on the table at some point," Reddish said.

District 10 Commissioner Mike Hamby suggested that the Commission consider attaching conditions to its $150,000 annual appropriation to the Economic Development Fund.

"One condition ought to be that the EDF communicate with this Commission more than they have," Hamby said.

District 6 Commissioner Ed Robinson agreed that more accountability was an option. "I would like to see some kind of efficacy measure placed on EDF," Robinson said. "What I want to see is a real business plan."

Commissioner George Maxwell questioned the wisdom of eliminating the Athens-Clarke County Police Department's K-9 unit in the budget proposal. 

"The K-9 unit, to me, plays an important role," Maxwell said. "If we should come into a situation where we need a K-9 unit, that means we have to borrow one from someone else."

In other agenda items:

• The Commission moved ahead on the process of naming Beaverdam Road Extension after Athens-Clarke County police officer Buddy Christian, who was killed in the line of duty in March.
• Commissioners briefly discussed a plan to raise parking rates in downtown Athens. Hamby assured Commissioners that suggested changes considered by the Athens Downtown Development Authority would be submitted to Commissioners early next week.