Commission weighs competing petitions to rename East Broad Bridge; commissioners seek compromise

Public speakers and commissioners debated competing applications to rename the East Broad Bridge, and several commissioners said they will seek a compromise prior to the Oct. 6 voting meeting.

During public comment, Tijuana Mattis (speaker 23) urged the commission to recognize Jesse Walton Barnett’s role in securing the bridge and in East Athens civic life, asking that Barnett’s legacy be honored alongside the other nominee rather than replace it. Commissioners discussed procedural requirements — including the ordinance’s signature threshold (staff confirmed 1,000 signatures) and the usual rule that honorees for facilities must have been deceased two years — and noted a policy exception exists for cultural institutions. Commissioner Wright (speaker 20) flagged that WeaverD’s application satisfied procedural requirements and suggested the commission could explore plaques or split recognition because there are parallel bridges available.

Commissioner Davenport (speaker 7) volunteered to convene with staff and the parties to find a compromise, and several commissioners indicated support for exploring options such as placing one name on each parallel bridge or adding plaques to honor both legacies. The commission left the matter for follow-up with central services and a possible compromise solution before the voting meeting.