Fountain Green council ratifies $10,600 emergency repair for theatre; private donor to cover half

The Fountain Green City Council on Jan. 22 unanimously ratified an emergency $10,600 repair to the historic town theater and adjacent dance hall after the mayor authorized immediate work when large sections of exterior stucco began falling away.

Council members voted to accept a private donor’s offer to cover about half the invoice. Unidentified Speaker 4 moved to "ratify the emergency expense on the theater, $10,600, and graciously accept the donation of half that to help cover it," and Unidentified Speaker 12 seconded the motion. The mayor called for approval and the motion passed by voice vote.

Council members said the contractor elected to proceed immediately because of a narrow window of favorable weather and the mayor reported crews removed loose stucco, addressed water intrusion inside a restroom and applied a backing expected to carry a 15‑year warranty.

The mayor told the council the chosen vendor offered a longer‑term fix than an initial, lower bid that would have only patched visible holes. The council discussed emergency procurement practice — approving the immediate action and then ratifying it later — and staff said the expense will be reflected in next month’s bills and donor correspondence.

Next step: staff will record the donor contribution and include the final purchase order and invoice in the public record at the next council packet. No further action was required at the meeting beyond the ratification vote.