Another meeting place for seminars, workshops and other government-related functions could be in the works for Forsyth County.

A pending deal between the county and Lanier Technical College would allow the county to use an auditorium proposed for the Forsyth campus several days a month for 25 years.

In exchange, the county would pay $1 million toward construction of the facility.

In a work session Tuesday, commissioners directed County Attorney Ken Jarrard to draft a final version of the deal.
The agreement centers on a proposed 14,000-square-foot facility that would include, among other features, an auditorium, several large conference rooms and a catering kitchen.

"For the county, we're thinking of it in terms of the Forsyth County civic auditorium," Jarrard said.

According to the agreement, the facility would be named Lanier Technical College Economic Development Facility & Forsyth Civic Auditorium.

The county's contribution would come from the recently passed extension of the 1-cent sales tax. The specifics of the agreement call for the money to be turned over by year's end.

In total, the project's price tag is $13.8 million.

Lanier Tech has received $12.8 million from the state for the project over the last couple years. The county's funding would seal the deal.

College president Michael Moye, who attended Tuesday's meeting, said Wednesday the project is on schedule and the state money is in place.

Commission Chairman Charles Laughinghouse said Tuesday he could envision the county using the facility for "dare I say Christmas luncheons or holiday luncheons ... and countywide employee meetings."

Commissioner Brian Tam suggested town hall meetings would be a good fit for the facility.

But one commissioner said the county doesn't need the auditorium.

"I don't truly see us using it a lot," Linda Ledbetter said. "I hope the county grows to the point where we do."

According to the agreement, the county would be able to use the facilities three days a month for the first 15 years, two days a month for the next five years and then 12 times a year for the final five years.

Jarrard could present the final draft as early as the Oct. 28 commission work session.

Moye said construction could begin as early as next month.