June 5, 2026
Entire Manchester PBA resigns
John Coffelt, Editor
The Public Building Authority (PBA) a seven member volunteer board selected by Manchester’s Mayor and Alderman announced Sunday night that each member submitted notice of their resignation.
The move comes prior to the PBA signing a lease accepting the city’s plan to take over operation of the conference center. The timetable for the transition is set to begin July 1, but members of the conference center staff have voiced uncertainty about their positions in the process.
“(In resigning) this will allow Mayor Hobbs the opportunity to select new PBA Board Members to sign the City’s lease agreement and carry out his plans for the new tourism department. The PBA Board recently voted for the lease agreement and wish nothing but the best for the new PBA Board and the new department,” the announcement reads.
The Manchester PBA was formed in 2020 to provide oversight of the management of Manchester/Coffee County Conference Center building, a county/city asset.
In the statement sent to local media, the PBA said that the planned use of the conference center is not in line with the current concept of a conference center.
“Manchester Mayor, Joey Hobbs, … updated (us) on his intention to utilize the property as office space for his new tourism department and welcome center. With this new use of the building, the Manchester Board of Mayor and Alderman (BOMA) are not planning to provide funding for what we have known as the Manchester/Coffee County Conference Center,” the announcement reads.
The PBA said that “Due to the lack of funding and change of use for the property, the current PBA Board members have submitted notice of their resignation to the mayor effective immediately.”
This is a developing story. Mayor Hobbs has been reached out to for comment. His response will be added as it becomes available.
Members of the PBA are Tiffany Hillsman, Chairman Megan Jackson, David Bradley, Ken Huddleston, Jake Shelton, Holly Jones and Zach Lowry.
John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.