Letter to the Editor: City school purchase creates confusion

Dear editor,

On the front page of last week’s issue (Thursday, July 24) of The Eatonton Messenger, “City confirms purchase of elementary school property,” the first sentence is: “The biggest news from Monday night’s Eatonton City Council meeting came in its final few minutes.”

The story continues, saying the mayor, city attorney, and seven-member council returned from an executive session “to announce the city has agreed to purchase the former Putnam County School at 314 S. Washington St.,” subsequently followed by a “unanimous public vote by councilors authorizing him (the Mayor) to sign a $150,000 purchase agreement with the Putnam County Board of Education.”

I am puzzled. 

The Thursday, July 17th issue of The Messenger on page A7, “Putnam County Property Transfers Through July” listed the transfer (sale) from the BOE to the city as occurring on 6/18/25 (over a month before council approval). Adding to the confusion, I can find no reference on the city’s website under Council Agendas and Minutes referring to the “unanimous vote by councilors.”

Am I the only one confused?

Tom Thompson, Eatonton