He withdrew his Aug. 5 offer during Tuesday night’s city council meeting after the council spent a month haggling over its city budget and cost-of-living increases for its employees. 

“After just kind of seeing these financial situations, I don't think it's appropriate for me to ask the city for any money or to manage this for next year.” 

Short said he will still move ahead with his plan to reopen the dragstrip, along with a park for BMX, mud and RC tracks. 

“I'd like to move this forward,” he said. “I'll be glad to give you the name and give them the agenda as soon as possible and hopefully get an event permit from you to move this thing along.” 

The council also passed the second and final reading to turn 5.03 acres off Cooks Lane into a light industrial and warehouse complex. 

Owner Joe Wiggins said he wants to build a 48,000-square-foot building that will be divided into 3,000-square-foot bays, with a warehouse on the other part of the property. 

Council members were assured that all traffic leading in and out of the complex would only be allowed on Energy Cove Court, not Cook Lane. 

After considerable discussion between former Mayor Van Royal and Assistant Mayor Ed Gaw about traffic, the council passed the ordinance, 4-0. Councilwoman Cheri Starnes was absent. 

In other business: 

The council agreed to an updated Water Supply Facilities Work Plan, which outlines assurances that the city will have sufficient water until 2045. 

Also, the council approved ordering a new Ford F-250 with a utility body and one medium-sized crew cab; awarded a bid of $295,000 to purchase a 230 kV Circuit Switcher; and approved a request by the police department for the street closure of Melrose Avenue for its annual Trunk or Treat on Oct. 24. 

During a special session on Friday, Oct. 3, Commissioner Darren Stutts asked for clarification on why there weren’t four options provided by city staff on Sept. 16 for the 2025/26 Fiscal Budget. 

Kennedy said his staff would have prepared additional options if they had been directed to do so. Mayor Matt Johnson said the council agreed on two options at a special budget meeting on Sept. 11. 

The council voted 4-1 on Sept. 16 to approve a 5.3 millage rate that included a 3% cost-of-living raise for city employees. Stutts said he didn’t agree to the two plans on Sept. 11, and he argued the raises should only be 2.3%. 

The city council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The agenda is posted in advance on greencovesprings.com/163/meetings-agendas.