After hearing from representatives of the city of Columbus and Lowndes County, the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors is faced with a decision: Give them $400,000 to repair the old river bridge, or not?
Last week, both the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors and the Columbus City Council passed resolutions requesting the CVB pay the $400,000 needed for a 20-percent match of a $2 million Mississippi Department of Transportation grant to renovate the bridge — over the Tombigbee River, near Highway 82 — into a walking path.
Representatives from both the city and county met with the board at Monday”s meeting at the Stephen D. Lee home on Seventh Street North in Columbus. On a recommendation by board member John Bean, the board unanimously agreed to give one-third, or $133,333, toward the bridge project and deduct $10,000 of the $50,000 the CVB annually gives to the city.
Bean was disappointed the CVB had not been contacted earlier about the request made by both the city and county to seek financial assistance for the project. He said he felt it best that the CVB pay one-third and the city and county should do the same, but with a caveat in that, the CVB deduct the amount they give to the city.
“It was reported in the paper that we get about $.1.5 million a year, and we actually get $1.2 million a year. This matter about the bridge has been going on since 2006. This should not have been sprung on us when it was,” he said.
State Tax Commission records show Columbus” special tourism tax took in $1.5 million from July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009, and has earned $1 million so far this fiscal year. The CVB is operating under a $1.37 million budget for 2010.
The CVB is already committed to projects such as the restoration and stabilization of the Tennessee Williams Welcome Center, Bean added.
Board member Dixie Butler said she was disappointed by the actions taken by both the city and county.
“This board has gotten a black eye. I learned from my late husband, Carl, there is something known as honor and compromise. It was a disappointment for this to happen,” Butler said.
CVB Board President Dewitt Hicks said money obligations are an important issue, and the city and county should have come forward sooner.
“This is the first time we”ve heard about this. We do not have a full board today,” he said. “We have six of eight members; we have a quorum, but this is an important issue.”
Members not present at Monday”s meeting were David Sanders and Whirllie Byrd.
Board member George Swales said he felt there was not good communication between the city, the county and the CVB.
“This does not leave me with a favorable taste in my mouth. We need people to understand that words matter, that communications matter,” he said.
Representing the city at the meeting were Mayor Robert Smith, Federal Programs Director George Irby, Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin and Ward 1 Councilman Gene Taylor. City Engineer Kevin Stafford was also present.
County Administrator Ralph Billingsley and Lowndes County District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith also were in attendance.
During the city”s presentation, Smith gave the board background information about the money the city received from MDOT.
The city did not come to Monday”s meeting to make demands, Smith said.
“We are only here to make this request. This project could be an asset for the city and be an asset to bring business to the Island and add to the Riverwalk, which would help tourism,” Smith said.
Other board business
The CVB board heard requests for grants from representatives of the town of Crawford, including Mayor Fred Tolan, for the annual Crawford Cotton Boll Festival. Tolan requested $4,000; the event is tentatively scheduled for July 9-10.
Teresa Sanders also appeared before making a request for financial assistance for Artesia Days, slated for Aug. 6-7; Sanders requested $6,000. And Mike Law appeared before the board to discuss assistance for Roast and Boast which is scheduled for Aug. 27-28; Law requested $4,000.
The board will make allocations for these events next month.
The board also unanimously agreed to take the proposed Art Park, planned to be built next to the Tennessee Williams Welcome Center, under advisement.
Allen Baswell was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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