In Jackson, a committee appointed by city Mayor Jerry Gist to examine a proposed parking garage held there third and what appears to be their last meeting.
The group of three Councilman Randy Wallace, Maurice Hays, and Ernest Brooks II voted 2 – 1 to recommend a financing option to the council IF the council votes to approve the project.
The cost for a three level parking garage will be approximately 4.4 million dollars. At least that is the figure the city is going to propose.
While all this talk of financing is going on it seems no one has included John Allen in the discussion of cost negotiation. John Allen told the council the cost for the 3 floor parking garage of the building, which sits atop a retail/professional bldg that Mr. Allen will retain will be approximately 4.6 to 4.9 million dollars. That is a different figure than the 4.4 million the committee has been trying to find funding options to build.
While the committee has heard that according to city planning the downtown area does not need additional parking there is a “perception” that parking is needed and this project will help with that perception. The garage is also endorsed by the Jackson Downtown Development Corporation.
After the meeting I spoke with the chairman Randy Wallace about the committee’s charge.
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I also asked him about the action taken
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Councilman and Attorney Ernest Brooks is also on the committee. He voted not to use Community Block Grant Development Funds to pay for this garage.
During the meeting he had comments about the timing of this project which I asked him to repeat Sound Clip
I spoke to him about using CDBG money for the next 20 years to pay for this loan
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The next action is for the item to be placed on an upcoming council agenda for discussion and a possible vote
