City Council concerned about Olympic venue

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville City Council members Thursday expressed concern about the Olympic Venue at Clarks Bridge Park now that Hall County takes over maintenance for a year.

Gainesville and Hall County share responsibility for maintaining the Venue, the 1996 Olympic Games rowing site. Mayor Pro Tem Danny Dunagan said the Venue is a 'gem' and the city wants to take it to the next level, but that's going to take money, and Hall County is very short of money.

"The County's having their problems and we're just a little concerned about the maintenance of the facility over the next year," Dunagan said.

Hall County, without the proposed 1.41 tax mill hike, is facing an $11.5-million deficit and the closing of 16 county parks, but Clarks Bridge is not one of them. Clarks Bridge is a Corps of Engineers park and gets money from a separate revenue stream.

Dunagan added there's a possibility the city could help with capital improvements at the site with some county help, since it's a joint venture, but there's been no talk with the county so far about the venue. Money could come from the community development fund.

"We've not heard from them or had any conversation with them about the Venue," Dunagan said.