Council Reaches Stalemate Over Transfer of Terminal Station Building to Macon-Bibb Transit Authority

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon City Council reached a 7-7 tie Tuesday night in a resolution that would transfer the historic Terminal Station Building from the city to the Macon-Bibb Transit Authority.

At the start of the meeting, former Macon mayor C. Jack Ellis addressed the council, saying the city had worked too hard to obtain ownership of the building and that giving it up would be devastating for citizens who have historical memories in the building.

Half the council members present echoed the former mayor’s sentiments, but those who voted to transfer the property said the station has continually operated in the red.

Those in favor of keeping the property under the city’s ownership argued against that stance, saying if the city got rid of every property that operated in the red, the city would eventually have nothing left.

Councilman Larry Schlesinger was not present.

Since there wasn’t a majority to defeat the resolution, Tuesday night’s 7-7 tie means the item can still be brought up again in the near future.

Hotel-Motel Excise Tax
After a 13-1 vote in favor of the resolution, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and the Douglass Theatre will equally distribute one-third of one percent of the Hotel-Motel Excise Tax previously allocated to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

Renaissance on the River Project: Last Piece of Land Needed Now Ready to Go
Council voted in favor of entering into an agreement with the Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority for the purpose of development of the property known as 801 Riverside Drive and to convey that property to UDA for development and to approve a real estate agreement between UDA and Renaissance on the River, LLC.