A proposal to bring the arts to downtown Woodstock has passed another hurdle.

The Woodstock City Council on Monday night voted to accept an agreement with the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners related to the purchase of property for the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village.

The council voted 4-1, with Councilman Chris Casdia opposing, to reimburse the county government $436,000 and "other eligible costs" for its purchase of roughly four acres of land on Elm Street for the project.

If the city fails to reimburse the county, the county will withhold SPLOST funds to be distributed to Woodstock by the county by March 31, 2012. Once the full reimbursement is received, the county will transfer the deed for the property to the city on or before May 1, 2012.

City Manager Jeff Moon said the city would use a portion of parks and recreation impact fees and possibly right-of-way acquisition funds to repay to the county.

The county Board of Commissioners last week tabled its purchase of the property using a portion of the county parks bond revenues. The purchase could be considered again by the board as soon as its July 6 meeting.

The proposed Elm Street Cultural Arts Village is a collaborative effort by arts enthusiasts to bring a cultural arts center to downtown Woodstock. The effort has received resounding support from city and council officials.

Mayor Donnie Henriques said the plan to reimburse the county in its purchase allows interested parties to move forward with fundraising efforts for the project.

Henriques said the decision also settles a long-term dispute the city has had with the county.

When city officials began serious talks about its proposed Arnold Mill Bypass plans, Henriques said the county's Parks and Recreation Agency started planning to build ball fields in the area planned for the new road.

The county government said it likely would cost $600,000 to find a new home for the ball fields.

In order to settle the dispute, Henriques said, the council decided to reimburse the county for the purchase of the Elm Street land. In turn, the county would waive the $600,000 cost to buy another site for the ball fields.

He said the agreement would benefit both the city and the county.

"The Arnold Mill Bypass benefits all residents," he said, adding he felt the road was more important for both the city and county.

The decision didn't sit well with Casdia, who said he voted against it because cutting a check to the county wasn't a part of the agreement the city made with the Towne Lake Arts Center, which is sponsoring the proposed Elm Street Cultural Arts Village.

That agreement, which the council approved in January, said the council would make a formal presentation to the county Board of Commissioners to request funds from the county's $90 million parks bond to purchase the Elm Street land.

It also stated the council would assist in negotiations with property owners, help with designing a master plan, develop public parking and construct a portion of its Greenprints Trail through the property.

Casdia said the city should not have agreed to pay $436,000 for the project.

"I think it'll be a fantastic thing for downtown Woodstock, but I'm hesitant on the financial commitment from the city," he said, adding he didn't like the idea of the ball fields issue being resolved by the Elm Street project.

The Elm Street project would transform the vacant historic Reeves home, which is about 2,500 to 3,000 square feet, into a visual arts center. Also on the property would be an outdoor gathering area and the Market Street Theatre, a "black box" theater where acting classes and small-audience performances could be conducted.

The two-story house was built between 1897 and 1906 by Luther Reeves. It was to be a part of the Hedgewood development company's plan to create a grid network on the west side of downtown. Those plans were abandoned as Hedgewood, which developed Woodstock Downtown, went into foreclosure. The house, which has been vacant for about three years, is owned by Ameris Bank.

Gay Grooms, executive and artistic director of the Towne Lake Arts Center, said the purchase now makes way for supporters to begin fundraising.

Mrs. Grooms said the cost to make the proposal a reality would be about $5 million.

"We're now in professional fundraising territory because it's a huge capital expense," she said, adding she and other supporters are in talks with a professional fundraiser to help launch a campaign.

They are also in the process of installing a board of directors and are brainstorming fundraising ideas.

Mrs. Grooms said they may schedule more cleanup days once the property is officially acquired.