The Georgia State Properties Commission has approved a lease agreement with the Development Authority of Bibb County that will keep the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame open in Macon for the next year, with an option for two additional one-year contracts.

Mike Ford, president and CEO of NewTown Macon, says the motion went through on Tuesday with little discussion.

The Telegraph reports (http://bit.ly/qQGM5g ) Ford says NewTown will take over the operations of the museum once the lease gets final approval from several other departments with the state.

The agreement ends 17 months of uncertainty since the state put out a request for proposals by Georgia cities and counties to take over the sports hall and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, which was shut down in June.

Tags: Georgia, Macon, Bibb County, Sports Hall Of Fame