By CAMERON JOHNSON
Published 11/15/06 in The Times-Herald
cameron@newnan.com
To help the Wadsworth Restoration Committee refurbish the Wadsworth Auditorium on Jefferson Street, the Newnan City Council on Tuesday approved the committee's request for $292,700.
Kristi Vining, the city's public information officer, made the committee's pitch to the council. The work is expected to begin in June 2007, she said, and continue for three months. Bookings for the venue, which seats approximately 650, will not be taken through November in order to allow for all contingencies, Vining said.
During the discussion of the funding, Councilman George Bradshaw asked about the seats. Vining stated that to keep the auditorium's historical integrity and "art-deco" feel, the old seats will be refurbished.
That means, noted Mayor Keith Brady, that each seat must be removed, sent off to a company and reupholstered.
Councilman Rhodes Shell asked about the roof project, and City Manager Dick Bolin stated that the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funded project has already been budgeted for 2007. The work is expected to be completed in March.
Shell asked if the committee has looked into tweaking the auditorium at all, such as adding or taking away seating, to better serve the public.
Vining answered that Don Nixon, the director of the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts, has been recruited to serve on the committee. Nixon, said Vining, has been making recommendations on how the stage can be used. The auditorium, said Vining, is used frequently by home school and public school groups, as well as other community groups.
A structural engineer was hired to test the tolerances for the rigging support over the stage, said Bolin. The determination of the engineer is that the support structure is not strong enough to hold what the committee would like. Bolin suggested that the council approve a portion of the committee's request and wait for more information.
"That's already been considered," explained committee member Steve Hill. The committee's budget request assumed the support for the rigging would not be strong enough, and therefore all was in order, according to Hill.
The rigging system is budgeted to cost $181,500.
Councilman Ray Dubose asked if the auditorium was used once a month or 50 times a year?
It's used heavily in the spring, Hill said, by groups that often can't get the CPVA, which is booked nearly year-round. The Wadsworth Auditorium has never been promoted, Hill said. With the proposed enhancements, including those to the sound system, the committee will be able to promote it and bring in more events.
There are a lot of for-profit events held at the auditorium, noted Hill.
"I would like to see us go ahead and cover this money," said Brady.
The money is to come from the city's unencumbered balance, according to Bolin.
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