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Talking Rock council approves $3,000 startup payment for downtown billboard amid business pushback
Summary
The Talking Rock Town Council voted to allocate $3,000 from its special projects fund to pay the startup cost for a billboard promoted by local business owners. Several business owners urged the town to share ongoing monthly costs and raised broader concerns about transparency, event support and follow-through on town projects.
The Talking Rock Town Council approved a $3,000 allocation from its special projects fund to cover the initial setup cost for a proposed downtown billboard after a motion and voice vote during the meeting.
The cost will cover the town’s portion of the billboard’s startup fees, with participating business owners expected to sign an addendum and pay a monthly share for ongoing costs. Mayor (role) said the town would pay the $3,000 setup fee and have legal counsel draft an addendum spelling out how participating businesses will contribute and how funds will be handled.
Why it matters: Business owners said a shared billboard could help direct visitors downtown, but several said they felt the town has not consistently supported businesses or completed prior projects. The discussion highlights tension between limited municipal budgets and business expectations for promotion and infrastructure support.
The council’s presentation said the town’s part of the startup cost would be drawn from the special projects account. Amanda (Town staff)…
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