Council discusses building use, social media plan at work session
BY KADIE TAYLOR
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — The LaFayette City Council held a work session on Oct. 20 to discuss the Exchange Enrichment Program and the addition of social media management services.
The discussion centered on the Enrichment Program’s desire to use a city-owned building that would require renovations.
“The Enrichment Group [is] wanting to use the Avondale building over on Second Avenue,” said District A Council Member Terry Mangram. “I went over and looked at it myself and went through it — walked around — [the] fire chief and I went over there, and in order for anyone to go in and use that building, especially if we’re going to allow them to bring kids in, that building [is] going to need to be brought up to some standards. Some repairs are needed throughout the whole building, inside and outside.”
District B Council Member David Ennis raised concerns about allowing one program to use the space and how that might set a precedent for other organizations to expect the same opportunity.
“I think all of this stuff about what the building needs is null if it’s inappropriate for them to be there in the first place,” Ennis said. “We let somebody use a huge house and all, but we’ve been talking about turning this building over to these people exclusively, and that’s grossly inappropriate. I wish the attorney was here, because it’s a legal issue.”
Suggested solutions included renovating the space and renting it to multiple groups, or selling the property altogether. City Clerk Louis Davidson reminded council members that no official action could be taken during a work session.
“Just to make sure you are all on the same page — this work session, there’s no action that can be taken,” Davidson said. “So moving forward, whatever decision is made would have to be made at a council meeting.”
The council also discussed paying Chambers County Development Authority Project Manager Andie Chambley $400 per month to manage the city of LaFayette’s social media accounts.
“I’m gonna tell you what I think we’re gonna get out of it,” Mangram said. “I think we’re gonna get what the public wants right now. I think it’s gonna get that publicity [and] the knowledge of knowing what’s going on in the city. This stuff is gonna be put on a city of LaFayette web page, and the citizens have a right to go there anytime they get ready to read whatever’s on there. The water issues — like right now they’re out there working — and even though we put the signs out, it would’ve been on the page, and citizens could go look at it. I think it’s a good thing.”
Mayor Kenneth Vines said Chambley will post on an almost daily basis and that he expects the effort will help the council better communicate with the public.
