Mayor and Council unsure about City Auditorium’s future

The March meeting of the Swainsboro City Council and Mayor was held Monday, March 3, 2025, at Swainsboro City Hall. The meeting opened with an invocation brought by Pastor Delmas Mosley of the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the minutes of the February meeting were presented and approved. The first order of business was a motion to revise the meeting agenda to allow for discussion of the Swainsboro City Auditorium, the Vann Community House and a license application. In regular order under old business, council voted to approve the purchase of a new generator for the water and sewer department for a price of $133,825 including a 10-year warranty coverage. Next, under new business, discussion was held regarding the lease of additional vehicles for the Swainsboro Police Department and the Water Department. Council voted to lease an additional truck for the water department, and two vehicles for the Police Department for an additional $99,000 per year. Councilman Sconyers questioned the timing of this expenditure as well as that of two tractors which were all entered into within several months of the passage of the recent budget. Sconyers expressed the need to do a better job in preparing the budget and to “reel in” spending. In the next item under new business, City Attorney Jon Levis discussed the possible addition of another attorney for prosecution of cases in city court. This would be a new office for the city legal administration. The ordinance will be read at two meetings prior to council voting. The next subject for consideration involved rental of the Vann Community House and the Swainsboro City Auditorium. A motion to increase rental prices on both facilities failed to pass and council discussed other options including permanent closure of both locations. No action was taken on the future of the two sites. Agreement was reached as to the continued operation of the auditorium for upcoming events already contracted. In final action, council approved a consent agenda for the replacement of HVAC equipment at the Main Street Market, Vann Community House and a name change for game room license at 230 West Moring Street. Council then moved into executive session to discuss pending litigation and property negotiations.