Ballowe made the suggestion to school board and city council members at their joint meeting at the Civic Center Monday evening.
The big bike event arrives on Wednesday afternoon, April 23. Ballowe said it would help the city if school lets out early that day.
"That way our children are able to get home, we won't be involved in all the congestion of the bicyclists and all the spectators," Ballowe said.
Ballowe said the early release would allow children and their parents to watch the event.
Concerning the new elementary school planned on property donated by Mundy Mill developers, Ballowe said the project is on hold.
"It's going to be postponed one year because of the budget season we're in," Ballowe said. "We were looking to start construction on that piece of property over the next couple of months and open that in August, 2009. It is going to be placed on hold because of the economic times we're in."
City Manager Bryan Shuler told council and board members constitutional amendment legislation under consideration in the closing days of the 2008 General Assembly may revive the Tax Allocation District to help redevelop Gainesville's Midtown.
Recently the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that school tax money could not be used for redevelopment in TADs; it could only be used to support schools.
"The amendment would change that. It basically would clarify that the constitution of Georgia would allow school tax money to be used for those purposes," Shuler said.
If the legislature passes the amendment it would be up to the voters to approve it in November.
joint city council, school board meeting
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/3/208581