Politics & Government
Winder Council Member to be Appointed to Downtown Development Authority
The Winder Downtown Development Authority approved a motion to require a city council member to serve on the authority as a voting member.
- Who met: Winder Downtown Development Authority
- When: Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011
- Where:
- Who attended: Committee members Mace Strickland, Ted Wood, Mike Cain and Ronney Massey, Chairman Mike Rice, City Councilman Bob Dixon, Planning Director Barry Edgar and City Treasurer Ambrose Jackson
- Top agenda items:
1. The authority approved a motion to require a Winder City Council member to serve on the authority as a voting member. Winder's first authority in 1985 had a city council member on the board, but there has not been one in recent years. “I think we need to get back to the way we were,” Chairman Mike Rice said. The mayor and council will appoint a council member for the task.
2. The authority received word on its budget. Between $25,000 and $26,000 is currently available. That money is expected to be spent in the next 30 days, with $2,800 going toward replacing gutters in downtown and the remainder going toward new awnings.
3. The authority heard a report from Linda Moore, director of the Barrow Economic Development Council. She reported that since January, Barrow County has seen the creation of 60 new jobs with wages between $12 and $25 per hour. She also said that $30 million in capital investments have been made during that time in the county.
4. The authority heard from two groups hoping to help rebuild local downtowns. The Georgia Municipal Association provides legislative advocacy for cities at the state level. Winder is already a member city of GMA, and Becky Taylor encouraged the downtown development authority to let her know if they need any assistance with grants or other services. The Fanning Institute at the University of Georgia works with community, economic and leadership development, and Danny Bivens expressed his hope that the institute and authority can work together to form a plan for downtown.
5. The authority received an update on the streetscape project. The project has taken about eight years to date, including planning. Planning Director Barry Edgar told the authority the streetscape should be started by early 2012. “Everybody thinks it’s the type of thing that happens overnight,” he said.