The future of a proposed multi-modal transportation facility isin limbo following questions about the city’s financial commitmentto the project.

Mayor Bob Massengill told the board of aldermen Tuesday nightthat the city has spent approximately $146,000 during the severalyears the project has been in development. Of that, he said, thecity has been reimbursed only about $43,000 from federal fundsallocated for the facility that would be build on North RailroadAvenue near the old smoke stack.

Following the mayor’s recommendation, aldermen suspendedactivity on the facility until city officials can get definitiveanswers regarding city funding. The question is whether theoutstanding $103,000 in city funds spent on the project can becounted as part of a 20 percent local match toward a total $4million in federal funds.

“We’ve had some answers we’re not so sure about,” City EngineerCarl Ray Furr said.

In addition to suspending work on the project, the boardapproved Furr and Massengill traveling to Atlanta to meet withFederal Transit Authority officials to discuss the status of thefacility and funding. The trip is expected to be made afterThanksgiving.

For the initial $1 million federal allocation, the city used theappraised $206,000 value of the land as the local match. Adetermination of whether the unreimbursed city funds can be countedas part of the match will play a role in how in the projectproceeds.

“That gives us a whole different outlook if we don’t have tocome up with $100,000 to $200,000,” Massengill said.

Ward One Alderman Dorsey Cameron offered a differentcharacterization of the situation.

“A better term is if we’ve invested $103,000 or lost $103,000,”Cameron said.

Massengill agreed.

“I think getting answers to that will determine where we go fromhere,” the mayor said.

Massengill pointed out that the city has spent no money on thetransportation facility project during the current calendaryear.

In September 2003, aldermen approved going forward with a”scaled back” version of the facility that would require only $2million of the total $4 million allocation. With the city landvalue, Furr said then that scaled back project would not requireany additional city funds.

Last night, Massengill said the project will cost more thanestimated. He said Phase One of the project involves only theexterior of the buildings.

“It wouldn’t get us to where we could use the buildings,”Massengill said. “The interior would not be ready for use.”

Citing the latest architect’s totals, Furr said Phase One wasestimated $900,000 and Phase Two at $1.8 million.

That news regarding facility readiness angered some members ofthe board.

Alderman at large Les Bumgarner said his understanding in votingto go forward with the project was that Phase One involved gettinga set of buildings ready for use and Phase Two involved havinganother set of buildings ready for use. He said the board receivedsome “bad information” from architect Michael Barranco.

“I never in my wildest dreams thought we were talking about ashell of a building for Phase One,” Bumgarner said.

As an alternative to building renovation, Furr on Tuesday nightsuggested the possibility of leaving the landmark smoke stack buttearing down the surrounding building and constructing a newfacility. He indicated that would not require any more funds thanwhat is currently being matched by the city.

“I think you can build a nice facility there for $1 million,” hesaid.

Another aspect of the project is the time limit for usingfederal funds is approaching. Furr said there is typically athree-year window for obligating funds.

Furr said the first $1 million was appropriated in fiscal year2001, but he was confident that congressional pressure would givethe city additional time. He also alluded to the remaining $3million available to the city.

“We’ve still got plenty of federal money,” Furr said. “It’s justthe local money we have to deal with.”