John Coffelt, Editor

The Finance Committee threw down an ultimatum at its last meeting, “business as usual is off the table,” but during a special call Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, in a bit of Potomac Two Stepping, the Board moved to do nothing when the chance came to take over the operation of the center.    

For at least half a decade, a portion of the board has been arguing how badly the Manchester Coffee County Conference Center is being run, the folly of its autonomous governing body and its inability to run in the black.

So, when the option came up to do something, the board did nothing. The only vocal reason given, that an alderman cannot be assured of appropriate accountability. 

Even the center’s biggest cheerleader voted yes to take over operations under a new Tourism Department, a move that would likely result in his wife, the center’s general manager, being without a job.

I’ll acknowledge, I cannot run a conference center, but I can recognize that obstructionist politics get nothing done. That justification of no assurance of accountability, just doesn’t hold up to logical thought.

If the board cannot hold a department head accountable, then the city is in much worse shape than the annual $350,000 contribution that keeps the center open.   

There is a debate to be had about the future of the conference center. But members of the board who complain the most need to step up with some follow-through and vote. That’s why the citizens of Manchester elected them.    

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.