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Published Thursday, October 28, 2010 in Local

Development Authority to pay for Christmas decorations

By Elizabeth Melville

The Newnan Times-Herald

Although the Newnan Downtown Development Authority was divided, a motion passed 4-3 Wednesday to take $1,435 from the DDA's $10,000 money market account for city Christmas decorations.

The Newnan City Council had voted at Tuesday's meeting to fund the remaining $5,000 for Christmas decorations for the historic downtown district following the reopening of the newly renovated Coweta County Courthouse. The various holiday decorations were recommended by the city-appointed Christmas Decorations Committee.

At Wednesday's DDA meeting, there was discussion about whether to use DDA funding for the Christmas decorations.

Mayor Keith Brady noted that the DDA presently has no income stream, although its $10,000 was generated at some point in the past by making loans.

DDA member Sam Edwards was opposed to spending the money because he said they had no way of replacing it.

"It ought to be used for something," said Brady, adding that Main Street Newnan has no right to the money.

The money presently shares the same account with just over $5,800 from Main Street -- a fact that Brady took issue with.

Business Development Director Linda Kee pointed out that Main Street closed its separate account after its auditors made the suggestion that Main Street falls under the auspices of the DDA. The DDA board voted and approved that suggestion, according to Kee.

"You need to separate the money," said Brady. "I don't like the idea of co-mingling those monies."

The DDA voted later in the meeting to separate the DDA and Main Street accounts.

Ray DuBose, a DDA member and city councilman, seconded a motion made by Brady that the money for Christmas decorations come from the DDA's account.

"I thought it was fair that the DDA bought into that project a little bit to show activity on the DDA's part," said DuBose.

Brady even encouraged finding other worthy projects for the DDA to fund. "There's no real reason for the DDA money to sit there," said the mayor.

Kee said she wanted the money to come from the $2,000 available to Main Street in the city budget for public relations. She added that she views the DDA money as an emergency account.

Brady said he didn't want Main Street funding it out of the city budget.

"[City Manager Dick Bolin] asked you not to spend that money for a reason," said Brady.

The mayor later explained that the city budget is very tight and that he didn't think spending Main Street's city budget on Christmas decorations was the appropriate thing to do.

"Our revenue streams aren't there," he said. "If we come in under budget, I'd be surprised."

The motion passed narrowly with Brady, DuBose, Lana Mobley and Graylin Ward in favor, and Edwards, Martha Ann Parks and Casey Smith opposed.

The DDA also passed a motion that Kee get an explanation about a negative $9,663 in retained earnings from the city finance director or from Main Street's auditor. Kee will report back to the DDA at their next meeting on Nov. 10 at noon from city hall.

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