The Christiansburg Town Council really does need to
book that trip to the Emerald City, so they can get some courage.
This time, it's the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce that is taking the Town Council for a ride. However, this is one expensive ride - and the townspeople of Christiansburg are paying big bucks for it.
The Town pays lots of money, regularly, so the Chamber can "promote" the town - to tourists, new businesses, etc. The number mentioned at an October Town Council meeting was over
$12,000 dollars. Sure, the Chamber says that only out-of-towners staying at hotels and other
lodgings pay the tax. But, what else could the town spend all that on,
if they weren't frittering it away to cover Chamber of Commerce expenses?
As a former Chamber member, I feel that the organization is dysfunctional at best. As a current business owner, I don't see much going on among my fellow business owners in Christiansburg as far as hoards of tourists, or new businesses calling for their services. (A local B&B told me they didn't receive one single referral from a tourist via the Chamber in 2 years of membership.)
So what do we get for that $12,000+ dollars?!?! Good question. A question that Shane Adams, President of the Chamber, has been supposed to answer in person at the Town Council since September. The contract that requires the Town to pay a percent of sales taxes to the Chamber for their "services" also requires the Chamber President to report once a year, in person, to the Council.
Granted, Mr. Adams had a family crisis several weeks ago. That's an excuse for missing the September date. What about the meetings in October and November? It's not as if this reporting requirement is a surprise. IT'S IN THE CONTRACT.
Will the Christiansburg Town Council go to Oz and get some courage, or continue to fork over wads of cash to the Chamber? Will they blissfully ignore the fact that the Chamber isn't meeting their contractual obligation? Will the Town Council continue to be milktoast rather than look after the rights and pocketbooks of residents of Christiansburg? Stay tuned.