Highland took a step on Tuesday toward finding a permanent home for its arts council and other community-based organizations.

Council members voted unanimously to spend nearly $68,000 to make the old city hall comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which right now prevents public use of the vacant building.

Speaking before the vote, arts council board member Kittie Tenney begged the city to fund the renovation.

"I am here to implore the council to vote yes to retrofit the building so that we might have a place for our arts council," she said. "We would love to have a place, and I think you all know how I feel."

The building has been used to benefit Highland residents for years and allowing the arts council to use it would continue that, benefitting "families, adults, children, all ages," she said.

Tuesday's vote does not automatically mean the arts council can move in as soon as wheelchair access is installed, Mayor Jay Franson pointed out. The council will need to take a separate action to determine which groups can use the building. Several groups have expressed interest. Money for the renovation fell into the city's hands, in a way. Council members had tabled the decision two weeks ago after questioning how the city would foot the bill. But on Tuesday, Councilman Larry Mendenhall said it has recently been revealed that construction of the new City Hall and Justice Center cost $84,000 less than expected, and the city should be getting that money back from builders in about two weeks. The funds will come from that unexpected windfall.

"This is an asset that has languished vacant for over a year," Mendenhall said. "There are many good uses we could make of that asset. It is something we need to do."

Councilman Brian Brunson said he would rather see the overage spent on reducing the city's debt on the two new buildings.

"Cultural arts should come from its own budget," he said.

But city manager Barry Edwards said the building funds came from the city's capital improvements fund, the fund that would be used for renovating the old city hall, "so it is the right fund." Stipulations in the bond issued to pay for the new city buildings say the bonds cannot be prepaid in increments.

Councilwoman Claudia Stillman said it was "totally appropriate" for the city to pay for the renovation so that community groups can use the building. "This building has belonged to the residents of the city and will continue to belong to the residents of the city."

KeriLynn Lenhart, arts council chair, has said that for years, the arts council has shuffled from borrowed space to borrowed space. A permanent home would allow the council to expand the number of community classes and programs it can offer residents.