Asheville City Council voted to approve a deal whereby US Cellular would pay the city $1.3 million to have the Civic Center renamed after the corporation. To assuage dissenting voices, council also agreed to allow other parties the chance to upset the bid by December 31.
Some Council members, like Esther Manheimer and Vice Mayor Brownie Newman, tied to the deal to an effort to avoid raising property taxes and said the city’s hands were tied.
