Downtown Waynesville Association leaders were updated on several issues last week by Town Manager Lee Galloway.

He told leaders of the organization that the town has officially gone on record as supporting downtown Waynesville as the location for the new courthouse. A county steering committee made the same recommendation for the $35 million project, but some say it would be cheaper to build the facility elsewhere in Waynesville.

“I think the $10 million that someone is saying could be saved by building elsewhere is suspect,”Galloway said.

Galloway also said:

° It was unlikely that the downtown area would receive as much financial help from the town over the next couple of years as it has in the recent past.

“From what I sense, the board thinks it is time to spend money in other parts of town. Frog Level, West Waynesville and Hazelwood are all on the list,” he said.

“The public officials are telling me they want the rest of Waynesville to do as well as the downtown area. Of course, that means they will have to make the same financial commitment as you have made,” Galloway said, referring to the additional Municipal Service District tax downtown property owners pay to the town.

° The town board in the coming year will likely approve an outdoor dining ordinance for the downtown area, Galloway said. Lomo Grill owners have agreed to use smaller tables that meet the town’s recommendations for outdoor dining, he said.

 

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