Macon-Bibb officials to take swing at baseball agreement

Macon-Bibb County officials could decide in the next couple of weeks whether a summer collegiate baseball team will call Middle Georgia its home in 2018.

The County Commission’s Committee of the Whole is expected to vote Tuesday on a letter of intent with the owner of a new Coastal Plain League franchise. The agreement hinges on a separate resolution Tuesday that calls for spending up to $2.5 million for improvements to Luther Williams Field.

The money would come from the 2018 special purpose local option sales tax initiative.

If both measures are approved by the committee, a final vote likely would be made at the June 20 regular commission meeting.

As part of the agreement, the historic Central City Park stadium would get upgrades to the press box, locker rooms, dugout, concessions, field and more. The team would be owned by SRO Partners, which would pay $50,000-$55,000 annually to lease the stadium over a 10 year period. Another $3,000 would be paid when the lease is signed.

Coastal Plain League, established in 1997, currently has 15 franchises across the Southeast.

A $50,000 minor league baseball feasibility study completed in 2016 said Macon could support a Class A team. However, that would have likely been contingent on building a new downtown stadium, which could cost upwards of $38 million.

Economic development

The Committee of the Whole also will discuss a resolution Tuesday authorizing the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority to buy land for economic development.

The tri-party contract would involve the Macon Water Authority, the industrial authority and Macon-Bibb government.

The funding for the “Airport North Industrial Corridor Project” would come from the water authority’s 704 fund. Since 1999 the authority has placed $704,000 yearly into an account for economic development.

The land that’s a part of Tuesday’s resolution is located north of the Middle Georgia Regional Airport.

Jail death settlement

Macon-Bibb County may pay a $25,000 settlement in a civil suit filed over the death of an inmate.

The settlement, which could be voted on Tuesday, would go to the estate of Chavis Bernard Poole, Sr. Poole died in 2012 following a reaction to swallowing bags of methamphetamine during an arrest.

Poole began feeling the effects a couple days after ingesting the substance. The lawsuit claims that Bibb County sheriff’s staff showed “deliberate indifference” to Poole’s medical needs.

The settlement says that Macon-Bibb County admits no liability with Poole’s death.

The agreement would need to be approved by the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday and at a regular commission meeting.

This story was originally published June 12, 2017 at 12:27 PM with the headline "Macon-Bibb officials to take swing at baseball agreement."