No decision yet on possible chamber move

The Cairo-Grady County Chamber of Commerce chairman says no decision has been made on Mayor Richard VanLandingham’s offer to donate the former post office building to the chamber for use as its headquarters.
“June is the month the chamber board does not normally meet, but I anticipate we will have a called meeting before the end of the month to make a decision one way or the other,” Chamber Chairman Matt McCaskill said Tuesday.
According to the chamber chairman, Interim Chamber and Grady County Joint Development Authority Executive Director Tom Berry is seeking cost estimates for the renovations that would be necessary if the chamber and JDA decided to move from the current location to downtown.
The chamber board has not met since last month when the offer was presented to the board of directors by City Manager Chris Addleton, on behalf of the mayor, who owns the building privately.
At the chamber board’s May meeting, the discussion centered on who owned the current chamber headquarters. County Administrator Rusty Moye quickly reported that the city and county jointly own the chamber facility at North Broad and U.S. Hwy. 84.
McCaskill said previously the chamber could not afford to move and remodel the post office building without the proceeds of the sale of its current home.
According to the chamber chairman, the post office facility was recently opened up for interested board members to tour.
“I appreciate what the mayor is doing, but there is much to be considered. We will be meeting soon to consider all the options,” McCaskill said.