Tootie's Treasures is located in the old Army post gym in Fort Oglethorpe. The Fort Oglethorpe council rejected buying the building for the 6th Cavalry Museum.The Fort Oglethorpe City Council had a chance Monday night to have the gymnasium built in 1904 at the city's namesake Army post transformed into a community center and the new home of the 6th Cavalry Museum.
But councilmen balked at the idea of ultimately being responsible for the building's operations and maintenance.
And that likely means the window of opportunity has closed.
The City Council voted 4-to-1, with Councilman Eddie Stinnett in the minority, against accepting Catoosa County's offer to spend $350,000 in special purpose local option sales tax money to buy the historic gym at 2978 LaFayette Road, which is now home to Tootie's Treasures consignment store. The county was going to lease the building free for 30 years to the city, which would be responsible for operations, maintenance or other ongoing expenses.
"It's really a no-win situation sitting here," said Councilman Louis Hamm, who the county was dictating what the city should do.
The council's decision was a disappointing blow to museum Executive Director Christine McKeever.
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"The city has turned back a gift from the county of $350,000, and I don't understand that," said McKeever, who tried to convince the council that the museum's supporters would raise enough money to maintain and operate the building as a showcase for the city at the gateway to the Chickamauga Battlefield.
McKeever planned to move the museum, which is currently in a nondescript building on Barnhardt Circle, to the historic gym's basement so the upstairs could be used for community events and weddings that would generate rental income.
County Attorney Chad Young fielded questions from councilmen and told them that if they didn't accept the county's offer, the money likely would be redirected and spent on the Catoosa County Courthouse in downtown Ringgold.
"The talk is this money could be redirected to renovate the courthouse," Young said.
Judy O'Neal, who owns the gym building and Tootie's Treasures, said she's going to take the building off the market.
Contact Tim Omarzu at tomar zu@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6651.