The city ordinance responsible for creating and managing the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau could be in line for an update.
City attorney Jeff Turnage is due to deliver a summary of the ordinance Tuesday to the Columbus City Council. On Friday, he stated his desire to get the council and the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors together in one room to discuss the 24-year-old document.
“I hope we step back from it all and work out a reasonable ordinance before we start getting too radical,” said Turnage.
The ordinance has been thrust in the middle of a political disagreement between District 1 Supervisor and Board President Harry Sanders and District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks.
Sanders points to the timeline of county appointments to the CVB board of directors outlined in the ordinance, which has not been followed for years, as proof the county must vacate its current appointments and reappoint a new team to get back on schedule. Brooks has accused Sanders of using the appointment schedule as an excuse to “stack the board” with new members who will provide greater funding to the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link, the industrial development group that saw its funding cut in the latest CVB budget.
Sanders believes Brooks wishes to maintain the status quo because the current board allocates substantial funds to festivals with which Brooks is involved.
The ordinance clearly outlines the county”s right to dismiss all of its CVB board appointees at any time for any reason. It also splits power over the CVB — hiring and firing employees, budget approval, and other matters — equally between the city and county.
What”s not clear is what role the county played in the creation of the CVB and where ultimate authority lies.
“I”m looking for a local and private bill to see if the CVB was created under that (by the Legislature) or if the city created it,” said Turnage.
When the city drafted its ordinance designating the use of the 2 percent restaurant tax that funds the CVB in 1986, it included the county as an equal partner, but only the city ordinance has turned up. Turnage has yet to uncover a county equivalent of the ordinance or an interlocal agreement between the city and the county.
Sanders claims the city has the authority to remove all of the county”s appointees from the CVB board if it chooses.
Even if that proves to be the case, the city is unlikely to exercise that authority because the local and private bills which perpetuate the 2 percent tax stipulate “the tax … may be discontinued by an action of either of both of the governing authorities.”
The city ordinance also includes outdated provisions such as naming the executive director of the chamber of commerce and a member of the local historic foundation to CVB board positions. The chamber of commerce was folded into the Link in 2003, and there is no Columbus Historical Foundation.
Turnage isn”t sure what the council will do with the information he presents Tuesday or if the discussion will take place in open session.
Ward 1 Councilman Gene Taylor said he hasn”t devoted much thought to the ordinance, and expects the council will meet with the supervisors before taking any action.
Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem acknowledged he”s “observed some things that need to be looked at” but declined further comment until he hears what Turnage has to say.
Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin noted the ordinance makes no mention of the CVB”s agreement to direct a portion of the 2 percent tax to the Link.
“Probably the gist of the meeting (between the city and county) will be to come up with something more concrete than just a verbal agreement,” he said.
For years the CVB has provided 15 percent of its budget to the Link based on a verbal “understanding.” For its 2011 budget, the CVB cut that amount to 12.3 percent of its budget.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.