John Coffelt, Editor

A resolution to sublease the Manchester Coffee County Conference Center failed to obtain a majority vote during the Board of Mayor and Aldermen special call meeting on May 15.

The city 2025-26 fiscal budget likewise failed 3-2 with Alderman James Threet abstaining from both votes.

Three aldermen announced prior to the votes that they have indirect conflicts of interest due to having relatives that are employed by the city or the Manchester Public Building Authority.

Alderman Donny Parsley’s wife and Alderman Thomas Crosslin’s daughter is employed by the city, and Alderman Ryan French’s wife is the Executive Director at the conference center.

City Attorney Craig Johnson said that by TCA code and the City Charter, indirect conflicts do not prevent aldermen from voting on indirect conflicting matters.

Threet, Alderman Julie Anderson and Vice Mayor Mark Messick did not voice any conflicts of interest.

Threet declined as of press time to comment on why he abstained, but French alleged the vote was a political move to block the vote. Threet’s no vote would have likely caused a tie and Mayor Joey Hobbs would have likely given a tiebreaking yes vote.

“If you’re elected to this board,” French said. “You’re elected to vote. Strategically abstaining is not the way to do things. It’s disingenuous. He knows that. He’s a freaking attorney.”

Messick, French and Crosslin voted yes on both the sublease of the conference center; Parsley and Anderson gave no votes on that vote and the subsequent budget that originally contained a stopgap $75,000 contribution to the conference center but was amended to return to this budget contribution of $350,000 after the resolution to lease the conference center failed.

The sublease of the conference center gained a 2-1 positive recommendation from the Finance Committee with resolution sponsors Messick and Crosslin voting yes, Parsley offering the no vote.

“Personally, I would have liked to see all three options on this agenda so that we can all discuss them as a board,” Anderson said. “I know that this is a situation where there is a lot of room for improvement. I’m not sure that this is the right direction to take.” 

Anderson said she would vote no until someone could show that the city operating the center directly would improve accountability.

Hobbs called the city’s direct operation a stopgap measure. He said at the special call meeting that he hopes to once again partner with the county to operate the center in the future. The proposed operation in the meantime would fall under the Tourism Department, funded through the Hotel/motel tax and overseen by a department head approved by BOMA.

The Finance Committee rejected the option to discuss talks to shutter and sell off the city’s 50% ownership of the conference center in favor to operate the center under a department. This would virtually negate the Manchester Public Building Authority, the autonomous body that currently operates the center since the dissolving of the Coffee County PBA in 2020.

Following the failure of the resolution, no motions to amend the agenda to add or cut contributions to were made. The agenda failed due to lack of yes votes. 

Valuable asset or money pit? 

Almost since the Manchester Coffee County Conference Center’s beginnings over 20 years ago, it’s profit margin or lack of has been a controversial subject with government officials and the public alike.

Proponents feel the center is a valuable asset and provides a strong economic impact to the county and city. Detractors note the center’s constant inability to stay in the black. 

While the debate continues if the center should be expected to make a profit, Crosslin said he has studied the profits and loss ledger and sees a way for the center to make a profit.

“There is no doubt there are accountability issues,” he said. “The way business has been conducted has to change, but I do see it as an establishment that can be profitable.

“Looking at the P&Ls there are opportunities to really change the financial standings,” he said.

Hobbs said savings would also come with bringing operations into the city by using the city’s finance department and maintenance department.

The move would likely come with serious changes to the management and administrative staff that consists of a General Manager, an Assistant Manager/event manager, a second event manager, a back of house manager, and a banquet captain in addition to the hourly wait staff.     

The current contribution of $350,000 comes from the city’s general fund. The proposed budget has that money coming from the Tourism Budget. That proposal shifts for the first time hotel tax money from going to the general fund and the Rec department directly to Tourism that would in turn fund the Rec. Department.

The budget will return to Finance for reconsideration. If a budget is not approved with two readings by July 1 the city will continue operating on this year’s budget for up to 90 days at which point the state comptroller will step in. The budget he presents will likely include the $350,000 contribution. 

Alderman French recently resigned from Safety, Recreation and Information Systems committees, due to unrelated scheduling conflicts with his job schedule.    

Parsley was appointed to Safety, Vice Mayor Messick to the Rec. Commission and IS will remain vacant. That motion to approve the mayor’s appointments passed 6-0.

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.