10 months ago
Last year, the Georgia General Assembly said the two Macon Museums could be moved to Atlanta, unless they prove they can break even here.
But this year, legislators shot down a local plan to boost the two Georgia Halls."We were just looking for a couple things to do today and we went to the Music Hall of Fame and I saw a brochure and so we decided to come over here," said Jim Woods of Springfield, Ohio.
Jim Woods traveled from Ohio to visit his mother in Warner Robins, together they headed to the Georgia Halls of Fame in downtown Macon.
"I like the exhibits that show the uniforms and balls and trophy's used mainly from older competitions," said Woods.
Local officials planned to give the Georgia Sports and Music Halls of fame 200-thousand dollars each next year, from an increased one-cent hotel/motel tax. The bill passed the House but didn't score enough points in the Senate. Now, directors of the two museums are searching for other options.
"The next three months the staff here at the museum, our authority board and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Foundation board will be looking at every aspect of our operation and trying to figure out what changes we will need to make," said Ben Sapp, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Public Information Director.
"I think we have to decide that these institutions are all worth enough and valuable enough that we need to collectively come up with a plan to not only have all of them survive but also thrive in Macon," said Lisa Love, Georgia Music Hall of Fame Executive Director.
Area officials say they're disappointed, but also looking at the next move.
"They are a tremendous asset to this community and we don't want anything to happen to them," said Keith Moffett, Office of the Mayor.
"I'm not sure where we go from here, but I certainly want to work to continue to try and preserve them," said State Senator (R-18) Cecil Staton.
For Woods and others, the Hall of Fame attractions are moments in history worth every hurdle.
