Sanders

THOMASVILLE — A Thomasville City Council member questions the process involved in paying $4,500 toward the removal of controversial exterior brick on a two-building remodeling project in downtown Thomasville.

After several meetings of the Thomasville Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), the panel and Lucas Stewart, owner of the buildings, agreed Friday on a brick that meets city historical preservation requirements. The HPC voted unanimously in favor of Wellington brick, resulting in Stewart’s Old Jackson brick having to come down.

Stewart had appealed an earlier HPC brick decision to city council. The subject was on the Monday night council agenda.

At the workshop prior to the meeting, Tim Sanders, city attorney, pointing out the brick agreement, said Stewart had withdrawn his appeal.

The city, Sanders said, will pay $4,500 of the cost to remove Old Jackson bricks from the 116-118 N. Broad St. buildings. Stewart put the removal cost at $5,000.

Council member David Hufstelter asked who was involved in the decision to give Stewart the money.

Officials said the city manager is authorized to approve expenditures of up to $1,500. Any amount above $1,500 must go before city council for consideration.

Hufstetler questioned if the arrangement is “a blank check of up to $15,000.”

Interim City Manager Kha McDonald responded that she was not “intimately involved” in the decision and depended on staff’s and involved parties’ input before approving the expenditure.

Hufstetler said he and other council members were involved in the brick issue and would like to have been involved in the payment to remove the bricks.

“If (Mr.) Stewart had provided samples in the first place, we never would have gotten there,” interjected Council member Jay Flowers.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820