The Milledgeville City Council was split in a motion for budget amendments to incorporate Milledgeville MainStreet/Downtown Development Authority during a council meeting Tuesday evening.

The move, if successful, would have left two full-time MainStreet employees as city employees.

The city has been examining options on MainStreet’s relationship with the city since June when then-MainStreet Executive Director Heather Holder announced she would leave her position with MainStreet to accept a position as executive vice president of New Town Macon beginning Sept. 1.

In a work session held prior to Tuesday evening’s council meeting, Milledgeville Mayor Richard Bentley entertained a notion to discuss possible action to incorporate MainStreet as a City Department, but no discussions were posed or questions asked by council members present.

District 2 Councilwoman Jeanette Walden and District 3 Councilwoman Denese Shinholster were not present for Tuesday’s council meeting or work session, leaving District 1 Councilman Ken Morgan, District 4 Councilman Ken Vance, District 5 Councilman Richard Mullins and District 6 Councilman Steve Chambers to cast the necessary votes.

Morgan voted ‘no’ to the ordinance, while Chambers and Vance voted ‘yes’. Councilman Mullins chose to abstain from voting, causing the ordinance to be tabled until the next council session, according to City Attorney Jimmy Jordan.

“I’m not satisfied with all the information I received on this ordinance,” Mullins stated when asked by Milledgeville Mayor Richard Bentley to provide a reason behind his decision to abstain.

Chambers expressed his frustration with Mullins, noting Mullins was provided an opportunity for feedback or to ask questions on the issue of MainStreet incorporation during the council’s work session held less than 30 minutes earlier.

“We just had a work session where no questions were asked, and yet there is not enough information? I don’t understand,” Chambers said.

When questioned on his decision to vote against the ordinance after the meeting, Morgan elaborated on his motivations.

“MainStreet/DDA has been functioning extremely well over the years. They have done a lot since the two years, eight months that I have been on the council,” Morgan said. “I’m happy with the projects that they have created. Sweetwater is a good example. Bringing in the Enterprise zones. Encouraging businesses to come downtown.

“They have been a very productive organization the way they are functioning now. I’m not saying that they won’t be productive under the city, but right now I don’t want to make changes on a wheel that’s not broken. Based on what has been brought forth, I don’t believe we have enough information on the benefits, especially for taxpayers. No one has shown me any financial benefits that will come from it. Why change it now?”

Holder, who still lives in Milledgeville but works in Macon, and who will be returning next week to oversee the 2008 Sweetwater Festival, a MainStreet fundraiser festival scheduled for Oct. 25, seemed to have a positive outlook on the council’s decision.

“I don’t think the decision will impact the work of Sweetwater Festival or MainStreet. Downtown revitalization is important and has always been important to the council for more than 20 years. There are a lot of ways of looking at it. MainStreet has always been open to any of the plans suggested by the city. The bottom line is we want to continue serving the community in the same positive manner that we have done for many years,” Holder said.

The Union-Recorder caught up with Mullins after the meeting and also asked for clarification on his decision made during Tuesday’s council meeting regarding the subject of MainStreet.