Barnesville approves $30,000 downtown Fa�cade Grant; two councilmembers abstain

The Barnesville City Council voted on April 6 to amend the 2014/2015 operating budget to fund a $30,000 Downtown Historic District Facade Grant Program.

Mayor Peter L. Banks introduced the program as a revival of an initiative the city said had driven private and public investment a decade earlier. The proposed budget amendment (Ordinance No. 545) received first reading on March 2 and passed second reading and final approval on April 6.

The final vote was not unanimous: Councilmembers Mark R. Stone, Christopher Hightower and Mayor Pro Tem Larry B. Whitworth voted in favor; Councilmembers Anne H. Claxton and Sammie D. Shropshire, Jr. recorded abstentions. Both Claxton and Shropshire said they own property in the downtown district and felt they should not participate in the discussion or vote.

Mayor Banks said he had asked Eileen Jackson, Linda Brutz and Molly Shiver to serve on a Historic Preservation Committee to administer the program. The ordinance amendment authorizes city funds to provide matching grants to qualifying downtown property owners as described in the proposed program documents; the minutes indicate the item moves forward with the committee in place.

Council also adopted related park rules and continued discussion on the sidewalk café ordinance at the same meeting. The Facade Grant funding is recorded as an approved budget amendment in the minutes.