Council considers venue foundation

GAINESVILLE - Tracy Whitmire with Gainesville's communications and tourism office told city council members Thursday it's time to look at forming a non-profit foundation to promote the Olympic Venue at Clarks Bridge Park. She said she got the idea during a recent visit to Oklahoma City where a foundation is in place to manage that city's river front venue.

"We need to come together to give them more of a foundation to operate the venue, to really have a force behind what can become of that venue," Whitmire said.

Whitmire also updated Council on the motion picture's interest in Gainesville, saying she planned to promote the city next week to movie producers locating a studio in Atlanta.

MORE HELP FOR CITY COURT

Gainesville municipal court cases are picking up and City Finance Director Melody Marlowe told City Council a part time employee is justified as well as more court time.

The caseload increase means more revenue, more than Marlowe anticipated the first of the year.

"I'm asking if we can possibly have a part time person added to the work force and to add back some court days," Marlowe said.

Mayor Ruth Bruner said Council could authorize the request with a budget adjustment.

Council also reviewed a proposed ordinance amendment calling for the addition of a $10 "technology fee" added to court fees to help pay for technology improvements for city police, the municipal court, code enforcement and the city marshal's office.