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The Bainbridge-Decatur County Development Authority met for a specially called meeting first thing Friday morning. There was only one item on the agenda: Project Liberty, Safer Human Medicine’s planned primate breeding facility. A sizable crowd of concerned citizens gathered to hear what would be discussed.

The members of the Authority went into executive session for discussion. During that time, citizens took turns voicing their opinions amongst themselves on the matter.

When the Authority returned from the executive session, they entertained a motion pertaining to Project Liberty’s bond resolution; specifically to revoke it.

This motion sought to revoke the Authority’s approval of the bond resolution, which was adopted on December 11, 2023, as well as all related documents, to consent to the rescission of the bond validation order filed in January of this year.

The motion would also instruct the Authority’s legal counsel to file a formal response to the District Attorney’s motion to reconsider all other filings in the bond validation.

The members of the Authority voted 8-1 to approve this motion and revoke the bond resolution.

“The motion that was just passed,” Chairman Keith Lyle said, “reflects that the Bainbridge-Decatur County Development Authority, the Bainbridge City Council, the Decatur County Commission, the Decatur County Board of Education, and the Decatur County Board of Tax Assessors believes in the economic benefits of the project. However, the divisiveness and the polarization this community is experiencing now outweighs the economic advantages.”

The Post-Searchlight reached out to members of the Authority for further comment and clarification, but as the bond resolution matter is still being litigated, they declined to comment further.