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Byron council approves $250,000 potential match for SCRC downtown beautification grant
Summary
At a May 21 special session, the Byron City Council approved a potential $250,000 local match for a Southeast Crescent Regional Commission grant to reconfigure the downtown into a square, underground utility lines and pay for paving and striping; an engineer’s cost estimate from GWES, LLC was presented.
The Byron City Council voted unanimously May 21 to approve a potential $250,000 match to support a grant application to the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission aimed at redesigning the city’s downtown.
Mayor Michael Chidester said Greg Boike of the Middle Georgia Regional Commission proposed reusing Byron’s prior grant application to pursue the SCRC award, which would fund turning the downtown into a square, moving unsightly electrical and internet lines underground, making utility improvements and repaving and restriping streets. "[It] would beautify the downtown area and make it more appealing," City Administrator Tiffany Sandefur said, noting the council had received an engineer’s opinion of probable cost from GWES, LLC.
Council Member Michael Chumbley moved to approve the $250,000 potential match; Council Member Chris Hodges seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The motion record lists Mayor Michael Chidester, Council Members James Richardson, Michael Chumbley and Chris Hodges as voting yes; Council Members Alan Dorsey and Rusty Adams were recorded absent.
The action commits the city to a potential local contribution if the SCRC application proceeds; the minutes do not specify a timeline for submitting the application, the exact uses of the match funds beyond those described, or any additional funding sources. The council did not record any amendments or conditions on the match in the minutes.
Next steps were not specified in the meeting record. Staff and the Middle Georgia Regional Commission would be expected to coordinate on any formal application or cost-reconciliation, but the minutes do not document such assignments.
