Morris News Service
ATLANTA --- Negotiations continued Tuesday between Augusta and the state over the transfer of 16 acres left vacant by the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame.
Morris News Service
Augusta School Board member Jack Padgett, center, speaks as Rep. Quincy Murphy, D-Augusta, left, and Augusta Commissioner Corey Johnson listen during a discussion at the Capitol between local legislators and local officials.
Morris News Service
Rep. Henry Howard, D-Augusta, and Augusta Commissioner Joe Bowles confer Tuesday Feb. 10, 2009, after an informal breakfast discussion at the Capitol between the Augusta legislative delegation and five commissioners.
Morris News Service
Augusta Commissioners Joe Jackson, left, and Joe Bowles, with cup, confer with Reps. Henry Howard and Barbara Sims after an informal breakfast discussion at the Capitol between the Augusta legislative delegation and five commissioners.
The Hall of Fame board has asked for legislation to dissolve the entity so that a nonprofit organization can be established to resume the functions of the Hall of Fame and display statues of golfers. Once dissolved, the land would become state property.
Gov. Sonny Perdue and Mayor Deke Copenhaver met with members of the Augusta legislative delegation to discuss details of a possible transaction.
Mr. Perdue's spokesman, Bert Brantley, described the meeting as positive, though no agreement was reached on the details.
One issue is the state's asking price. Though Mr. Perdue didn't mention a figure, he did ask for details about the city's investment in the parcel when it was assembled in 1996-97 for $4.4 million. About $3.5 million in debt remains to be paid on bonds the state issued to purchase the property in addition to whatever value Mr. Perdue wants the state to derive from the land.
There will be no money for the city to purchase it, according to one commissioner.
Don Grantham told the legislators before they met with the governor that the commission was unlikely to budget money for the land beyond the $6 million it invested toward development.
"I'm going to be honest with you. We wouldn't even fund $140,000 to maintain it," he said. Mr. Grantham and Commissioner Calvin Holland were at the Capitol for the city's annual lobbying blitz and barbecue, from Sconyer's.
The lawmakers met with the Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce's Advocacy Committee for an update on business issues.
Legislators and commissioners will meet Monday in Augusta to discuss issues in greater detail.
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