Downtown Moultrie Association President Steve Lazarus, at podium, updates members on downtown developments, like a planned camera system and construction at the South Main Parking Lot, and on upcoming events, like Second Saturday and Ladies Night Out. According to Downtown Economic Development and Public Relations Director Amy Johnson, this was one of the largest attended DMA meetings. 

MOULTRIE, Ga. — In a crowded meeting of the Downtown Moultrie Association, the group’s leaders updated downtown merchants and others Tuesday on upcoming events and downtown projects.

These included a fiber ring to allow Wi-Fi downtown, a security camera system, speakers and a welcome center.

DMA President Steve Lazarus spoke mostly, giving more information on the camera systems.

“It sounds like, with the funds that we have here, we’re going to start out with four cameras and that would be focused around the square,” he said. “So, if there were going to be more cameras, other people would be responsible for buying those.”

This would be the immediate response, Lazarus said. Should business/property owners wait, future accrued funds could bring more cameras downtown.

The DMA is considering several options for the cameras — some members prefer daytime cameras while others thought night-vision would be more beneficial, for instance. Some of those details will depend on who wins the bid.

The bid hasn’t been sent out yet though. It must wait until the DMA knows how much money it actually has — which won’t be until March 1. Southwest Georgia Bank will review the DMA’s accrued funds on this date and match it up to $40,000.

Around $10,000 has already been accrued via 2019 fundraisers. This, along with the other projects, was met with a positive consensus.

Packer Stadium Bar and Grill owner Justin Murphy said he and a couple of the other business owners in attendance were leaning toward specific cameras in opposition.

“The cameras that they picked out were more or less for the daylight and we were talking more like for infrared or night-vision cause most of the crime happens more or less at nighttime,” Murphy said. “But I do think it’s a good opportunity for Moultrie and to make the citizens feel like they’re safe.”

Change is oft a positive thing, but in its transition can be rough and uncomfortable — that’s how some of the business owners surrounding the South Main parking lot feel as improvements are made to the lot.

City Council approved a change order for the parking lot’s improvements, adding on the removal of an old, underground diesel storage tank on Feb. 4.

The process to remove it involved a 72-hour waiting period, the locating of all underground utility lines and the contacting of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

The process started Feb. 5. City Engineering reported that the work would start as soon this week, Feb. 10-14, but intermittent rain has paused construction.

Sid’s Antiques owner Sid Collins said he knows the benefit of the improvements, but it doesn’t change the negative impact it has on businesses for the time being.

“There are no places for the employees to park,” Collins said. “We have to park out front and that takes customer parking spaces. I’m sure they’re doing it the right way, it’s just a pain until it gets done.”

It’s nothing negative, just an inconvenience, he said. Marvin King of King’s Jewelry and Shoes gave a similar sentiment saying it doesn’t look nice now but will look good when done.

City Manager Pete Dillard gave the attendees an update on Second Saturdays. With the alcohol ordinance now allowing open containers downtown for the purpose of that event, which the council approved Feb. 4, Dillard laid down the rules so far.

Participants “have to have a wristband on and [alcohol] is only in a special cup. There’re number controls and each establishment that will be serving in the downtown area would sign a contract with our Main Street office before participating.”

The wristbands for the event have already come in and the special cups are expected on Monday. Dillard also gave an update on the demolition of the former Sportsman Restaurant, saying that the bid package — including the schematics for a new alleyway — will arrive within the next two weeks.

Feedback was more positive on the side of Second Saturday rather than the change in alcohol ordinance. Most believe that it’ll bring new business. That’s how it is for Michelle Bryant, owner of Three Tilted Tulips.

“It’ll allow the people — the vendors and businesses downtown — to be able to be in today’s times,” she said. “Little old Moultrie, Georgia is stepping up to what the big cities are doing in my eyes.”

Murphy, of Packer Stadium, agreed. To him, it’ll bring revenue to downtown in general, clothing stores and restaurants included.

“We just got to stand behind each other and support it,” Murphy said. “Thomasville’s got it down pat and our city officials have worked with the people [there, so] I think it’ll be a good thing for Moultrie.”

Murphy, a Moultrie native himself, knows the history of Moultrie’s alcohol ordinance. With it changing only in the smallest of ways in the past decades, he’s glad to see the town let loose.

“I’m not going to say all of us, but most of us like to drink and let our hair down every now and again,” he said. “We all got another side to us. Some of us choose not to hide it and some of them stay in the closet with it. Maybe it’ll bring some of them in the closet, out.”

Collins, however, doesn’t have an opinion. The owner of Sid’s Antiques is just waiting to see what happens because that’s he really can do. The alcohol ordinance change is of no consequence to him though.

“I think that’s fine, I don’t think there’s any problem with that at all,” Collins said. “I just hope it does good for everything and everybody, but that’s something we haven’t done. We’re going to have to give it a try and see.”

Second Saturday will be on March 14. The DMA also discussed Ladies Night Out on March 5, Sidewalk Sales on March 21, and Spring Fling and Backyard BBQ Festival on April 17-18.