The McMinnville Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously Tuesday night to pass a resolution to enter into a contract with AEI Architects, Engineers and Planners to prepare plans, specifications and bid documents for renovating the Park Theatre.While the measure to pay AEI $80,000 to draw up documents passed unanimously, it was not without fireworks.Alderman Jimmy Haley wanted to attach an amendment to the resolution to also fund Park Theatre restoration, which has been loosely estimated as costing up to $2 million. Haley’s concern is the board would pay for the Park Theatre documents, then fail to ultimately fund the project.However, his amendment was found to be illegal by city attorney Tim Pirtle.“You simply can’t do it,” said Pirtle. “There is a procedure you have to follow that’s in black and white and you have to stick to it.
Fireworks surround Park Theatre vote