Published: January 13, 2009 12:25 pm      

Athens council holds off on facility study

The Athens City Council decided to put a big project on hold at Monday night’s regular scheduled meeting.

The council voted unanimously to wait 60 days before signing a contract with Brinkley Sargent Architects for a facility needs assessment. Mayor Randy Daniel was not present at the meeting.

City Administrator Pam Burton said the assessment is to study the need for new police facilities and council chambers. The cost of the contract is $39,500, according to Burton.

“I don’t want to spend $39,000 on a study (for a project) that is shelved,” she said. “With the economy as it is today, sales tax is in our third month below what we had projected.”

Mayor Pro-Tem Jerry Don Vaught suggested delaying the decision for two months and then revisit the issue.

Burton said Brinkley Sargent proposal will be good in 90 days.