John Coffelt, Editor

Manchester Finance Committee approved a recommendation to redirect the remainder of this year’s budgeted tourism dollars allocated to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce to go directly to the Tourism Committee’s coffers instead.

If approved by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, the budget amendment would cut $13,000 of the $27,000 in Hotel/Motel tax money from the Chamber. The city’s $10,000 general fund contribution to the Chamber will remain in place.

The change, proposed by Mayor Hobbs, was said to be a better use of the funds to promote tourism.

“When we weren’t doing tourism on our own (the Chamber) was our arm. Now that we are going to go at it on our own, I changed the destination memorandum order from them to Manchester.”

Hobbs said that most cities have tourism separate from their chamber.

“The Chamber collects fees, and they help businesses that are here more than bring businesses to town,” Hobbs said. “We are trying to rectify where that money goes.

Hobbs said that he hopes to present to BOMA a Tourism Director position in December for a first reading. Seeing that approval as a good-faith vote, the city will begin taking applications in December and make a hiring decision in January.

Vice Mayor Mark Messick, however, felt the move is premature. Messick sits on the Tourism Committee and felt that the money would be further wasted by being directed to Tourism.

“I don’t mind taking that money away from Chamber,” Messick said. “I think it serves a purpose. I know we’re supposed to get a Tourism Director in January. He won’t be able to do anything with money until next June. So, we’re taking away money for it just to hang out there.”

Hobbs said that the money can be used by the Tourism Committee as they see fit in the remaining months of the budget.

“I know,” Mesick responded. “We are doing absolutely nothing.”

Hobb said his vision is for the city of Manchester to control its tourism dollars.

The motion to recommend the redirection of funds passed 2-1 with Aldermen Donny Parsley and Thomas Crosslin voting yes and Messick voting no.

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.