Perry Council hears from outside agencies

jclark@sunmulti.com

Strategies for development were the top request for two agencies that are funded by the

hotel/motel tax in the City of Perry.

The Downtown Development Authority and the Houston County

Development Authority asked council for additional funds that were not

recommended in the proposed budget for two plans that would provide a strategy

for growth in the area.

“What we are looking at with the strategy includes so much

of Perry,” stated Angie Gheesling of the Houston County Development Authority.

Gheesling told the council members that the cost of the plan

would be $30,000 for phase one and $40,000 for phase two.

According to City Manager Lee Gilmour, the presentation on

Monday was the first time the council has been presented with the request from

the Houston County Development Authority.

Bryan Fountain, the chairman of the Downtown Development

Authority told council “with no plan in place, it’s really hard to move

forward.”

Fountain asked the city for a 50/50 match for the master

plan, which he said would replace the outdated plan for the downtown area. He

asked the city for $25,000.

The Perry Area Chamber of Commerce’s Stacy Campbell asked

for an additional $4,000 to expand the Independence Day celebration.

The proposed budget states that the city has budgeted $5,000

for the celebration, $3,500 for the Dogwood Festival and $7,500 for Leadership

Perry and marketing.

Other agencies that are funded from the hotel/motel tax

include The Perry Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority, the 21st

Century Partnership, the Middle Georgia Clean Air Coalition and the

Perry-Houston County Airport Authority.

The mayor and council also decided to move the June 10

budget discussion to June 11 at 5 p.m. at city hall.

HHJ News