MACON, Ga. — Macon-Bibb County commissioners have a busy night ahead of them Tuesday.
Money for a clinic, replacing former Commissioner Al Tillman and purchasing the old downtown Macon Ramada are all on the agenda. There's plenty more, too.
First, commissioners will consider $4.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act money for several different projects. Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia would get $1 million for their One Safe Place Family Justice Center.
Another $2 million is set aside for the Macon Centreplex and Carolyn Crayton Park to get updated equipment. More than $760,000 would go to Keryx Ministries for their new Unionville free medical clinic.
Next, they'll need to find someone to replace former Commissioner Al Tillman. He stepped down last week and announced over the weekend he plans to start an entertainment commission. Tillman's term was set to expire at the end of the year. So, to fill his seat, there were a couple of different options according to Mayor Lester Miller.
The first is a special election, but that wouldn't be until May. So, Miller says the best thing to do is appoint a replacement.
Tillman came into office in 2014 as one of the first commissioners to serve in the new Macon-Bibb County consolidated government.
It seems like everyone's been waiting on the vote about the old downtown Macon Ramada. Last month, 13WMAZ reported the county agreed to buy the hotel, per federal court documents. Now, it's officially up for commissioners to decide.
"Really can't comment on any potential plans for that building yet, but what I can say is if we do get that building, we'll use it for a purpose that is going to increase the viability of downtown," Mayor Lester Miller said in December.
As for the plans for the building, he hasn't said much. Miller floated the idea of imploding it a couple of years ago, and didn't rule it out when asked about it last month. Commissioners said last week they hadn't heard much about future plans either, and were looking forward to learning more.
The county would pay $4.8 million for the hotel including closing costs. That doesn't include any costs to get the hotel back in working order if that's the plan. The building's owner, Ruby Sangha, said a couple years ago he estimated it would cost $42,000 per room to fix it up.
Commissioners will also consider $1.5 million from the county's blight remediation fund to buy Macon Charter Academy off Riverside Drive.