THOMASVILLE- The Thomasville City Council met on Monday night, where they unanimously agreed to table a discussion regarding the lease of an office space for $5,000 a month for a five year period.

Residents expressed concern over the amount of money being spent, especially when an increase in taxes was narrowly avoided several weeks ago.

Planning and Zoning Chairperson Sam Fink spoke in opposition to the idea, stating the City would be spending upward of $300,000 a year to house employees on a temporary basis.

“I’ve also heard that it’s anywhere between $35,000-$50,000 to fix up this office building,” he said. “It really doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. That area is prime commercial real estate for shops.”

Fink recalled several years ago when the City approached Planning and Zoning regarding “The Bottom,” claiming it would be the gateway to Broad Street.

“We spent $1.7 million and the only way the taxpayers will ever get any money back is to have businesses that take tax dollars in,” Fink said. “The last time I checked office buildings don’t collect sales tax.”

Fink said he understood the City had a need to relocate certain employees and could appreciate that, but doesn’t feel it would take five years to get the municipal building fixed up.

“I would like the City Council to postpone or table this tonight and to get a complete study done on the alternatives for offices around town that we don’t have to commit to for a long period of time.”

Fink pointed out that a mere six weeks ago the City Council and City Manager proposed a tax increase.

“The first thing the City needs to do is cut their expenses before they ask the citizens to pay more money,” he said. “If we can’t support the city, as far as sewers and infrastructure, we sure don’t need to be spending any more money.”

Fink thanked the Council for their time and encouraged them again to table their decision.

Resident Audrey Linder echoed Fink’s concerns.

“It seems like only weeks ago, we were here in this very room (Council Chambers) listening to reasons it was necessary to reinstate the millage rate due to the City’s overwhelming costs,” she said. “Then, last week we hear that the City is planning to enter into a lease agreement at $5,000 a month for a period of five years.”

Linder said she, like Fink, understands the City needs a space to go in order to complete renovations on their current building, located in the heart of downtown, but the City should’ve been aware of that need before the rental became vacant, costing thousands of dollars in renovations.

“Were there other plans before this building was vacated,” Linder questioned. “Have you fully thought out the cost of taking on this long term commitment, given the discussions on the budget, while trying to avoid millage and utility increases? Lastly, is there some reason for the rush that we don’t know?”

Following the questions, City Manager Alan Carson addressed some of the crowd’s concerns.

“The hotel/motel tax pays for the municipal building’s rental and it’ll pay for a portion of the rental at the new place,” he said. “I want to assure the citizens of Thomasville that there is nothing we do on a whim. Everything we do is thought out and planned out.”

Carson noted that the area on W. Jackson St. is less frequented than the current downtown office, but the hope is the new office will draw individuals to that area of town.

“We have a plan that once we do that, we start budgeting in 2024 to start clearing the air in this (municipal) building,” Carson said. “The employees know that and this building fits the need of Downtown, Marketing and Tourism.”

Carson also assured those in the crowd, along with the Council, that renovations would not cost the alleged $30-40,000, as previously mentioned.

Mayor Jay Flowers then asked for a motion to approve his signature on the lease.

Councilwoman Wanda Warren made a motion with Flowers seconding. However, Councilman Scott Chastain still had some reservations, stating he was for tabling the decision.

Carson felt he had spent quite some time in regard to discussing the office situation with the Council and was dismayed that no one beyond Chastain contacted him if they had concerns.

“It’s imperative that we work together on this,” he said. “I’m not a council member, but if we find out a couple minutes before the meeting that it’s a go or no go, then we aren’t going to get Thomasville anywhere.”

Councilmember Terry Scott told Carson he should not always expect a 5-0 vote, because democracy is about voting for what is right.

“I’m not looking for a 5-0 vote,” Carson said. “I’m expecting somebody to let me know something though, as we move through this process.”

Following Carson’s statements, Flowers asked Warren if she would like to amend her motion. Warren stated she would not, as Carson had spoken to the Council at length about this lease, including at the Council Retreat back in August.

“I’m capable of making independent decisions that will greatly effect and be a positive impact for our community,” Warren said. “We can’t stop making decisions every time someone gives feedback or doesn’t like what decision may be coming forward.”

Chastain informed Warren he was not making decisions based on community input, but had voiced concerns at the retreat and the Council Workshop.

Flowers once again asked Warren if she would like to modify her motion. She finally agreed to modify her motion to table the discussion of the 5-year lease agreement to the following meeting.