Initially, City Manager Paul Sabiston told council at its budget work session today Davenport & Company said it will do the first phase of the work between $10,000 and $15,000.

Councilman Ernest Bobbitt later made a motion for the work the firm would do to not exceed $12,000.

Finance Director MeLinda Hite told council she had spoken with four local governments which have worked with the company. "The feedback was excellent. They are experts in the field."

Hite believes the city needs this expertise to navigate a confusing financing agreement. "That's what we need. They're a great team to work with. They will provide input we need to make a decision."

Hite said the finance department does not have that deep of knowledge on the fixed and variable agreements that make up the theater debt load.

Sabiston said after talking with a company representative, the firm feels like it could divide its services, "Not just have a big open tablet."

That first phase would focus on what the agreement the city currently has and then give it options. "They would look at the four or five choices and explain the debt relationship we have now."

That would allow the city to have time to explore those options before moving to a decision on refinancing or restructuring the debt, which the company would also help the city with, Sabiston said.

City Attorney Gilbert Chichester said he believed council should do this. "I don't even know the tax advantages and disadvantages."

Chichester said should the General Assembly not address the city's proposed sales tax increase, the options discovered by Davenport & Company, "Gives you another tool in the toolbox."

Councilman Ed Liverman said the savings that could be realized through the company's work would help reduce stress on the taxpayers.

Asked by Councilman Greg Lawson if she believed the work of the company could realize the city savings of at least $100,000 on theater debt, Hite responded, "I'm very confident. I have no doubt."

Sabiston said while he is sure the company will consult with the Local Government Commission, there is no state agency that could analyze the theater debt with no cost.

There is a clause in the contract, Chichester noted, in which payment could be delayed based on the savings the city receives.

The company, according to a copy of the proposed agreement, would do the following:

Provide a comprehensive debt profile of the city.

Model the city's existing debt obligations.

Identify fixed and variable components.

Analyze the method and timing for resetting and negotiating those agreements.

Provide the city with a series of sensitivity analyses which measure the impact of various scenarios on the city's annual debt service schedules.

In other matters today council:

Approved allowing Rivers and Associates to handle planning and development issues until a new director is hired, a process Sabiston said could take two to three months. For a one eight-hour work day, which Director Amanda Jarratt said was based on a typical workload, the company would charge $560 and $88.94 for mileage from Greenville, a total of $648.94.

Approved a contract for Guy Shavender Trucking Company to do the grinding and hauling of storm debris from Ledgerwood Field, which Public Works Director Richard Parnell said was designated by FEMA to be the emergency dump site. Shavender will charge the city $3.22 per cubic yard and $3 per linear feet for road repair, which can be reimbursed. Reseeding, at $500 per acre, cannot be reimbursed.

Approved a contract for stump removal and disposal from the storm to M.J. Price Construction Company for $2,425.

There are some 22 stumps left from the storm, Parnell told council, adding Friday was the last day storm cleanup would be done without charge unless that cleanup is scheduled in advance. The city's total cleanup cost is around $100,000.

Jarratt said total damage estimates have still not been tallied as many people wait on their insurance companies.