Limestone County commissioners placed a resolution on their July work-session agenda to approve an appropriation to Athens State University for renovation of Carter Hall, county staff said during the meeting. The item was presented as “to approve a resolution concerning appropriation for the Athens State towards the Carter Hall renovation project.”

Athens State trustee Matt McCutchen thanked the commission at public comment for its involvement in the university’s effort to advance the Carter Hall renovation and said the university had been saving for several years to move the project forward. “I wanna say thank you to the commission, for being involved in the process,” McCutchen said.

Why it matters: County funding for a university renovation could affect local capital spending priorities and support campus facilities used for regionwide workforce and community programs. McCutchen also noted his role in regional workforce development and linked the project to Athens State’s role in producing a local workforce.

The transcript shows the appropriation item on the agenda but does not record a motion, vote, dollar amount, or final action on the resolution. Commissioners discussed the item during the contracts/resolutions portion of the meeting; no public figures or staff provided an amount on the record in the provided transcript.

McCutchen, who identified himself as a trustee of Athens State and as chairman of Region 1 workforce development, said the university had “been working for several years to save their money to try to get us into a position where we had funds available to move this project forward.” Rep. Danny Crawford, who spoke in public comment, also thanked the commission for working with the university and said he looked forward to continued cooperation.

The agenda listed the appropriation as the first resolution; the record provided does not show whether the commission approved or amended the item or the schedule for any disbursement. Additional details such as the appropriation amount, financing source, and any attached conditions were not specified in the meeting transcript.

The commission continued with its agenda after the public comments. If commissioners take formal action on the appropriation at a subsequent meeting, the public record or posted minutes should reflect the dollar figure and the funding source.