Entry 611 of 1039
By Think! Christiansburg On September 10, 2009 at 10:06 PM

Christiansburg Town Council has seven named committees.  There is an eighth but it is considered ad hoc, only forming when or if needed.  The same should be said of the Central Business District Committee which has been inactive for a decade.  Why?

The council also makes appointments to several commissions and boards.  Some of these are meant to provide "boots on the ground" for regional economic development and three are specific to the town -- Parks & Recreation, Aquatic, and Planning.  If the new aquatic center is a recreational asset, why is it separate from the Parks & Recreation Department? 

Councilman Henry Showalter was recently assigned as the council liaison to the Tourism Development Council (TDC).  Previously, this was a role filled by a staff member.  Showalter stated at the Sept. 1 council meeting that he had learned the Mayor and Town Manager had recently met with the interim president of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.  Why wasn't he included in this meeting?

The chamber was asking for some of the lodging tax money to be released for an advertising campaign.  The chamber had been the contracted provider for use of tourism funds from the county and towns of Christiansburg and Blacksburg.  That program remains in limbo but some bills are still due and apparently beyond the chamber's ability to pay on its own, or using  residuals of what has amounted to about $125,000 a year since December 2005.  Why? 

In early July, chamber members were alerted to a leadership change and directed to contact John Carlin of Access Advertising or the chamber's legal representative (and high profile chamber sponsor) with questions or concerns.

According to their website, this Roanoke firm offers "full-service advertising and public relations, media planning & placement, creative strategic development & branding, web, online & interactive services, corporate ID, print collateral, direct marketing, 3-D design for trade show exhibits, signage and wayfinding."

The TDC had presented a comprehensive tourism analysis to its funding partners a year ago.  It included media placement and strategic development options to develop tourism, including expanding an online presence, signage and wayfinding suggestions.

Perhaps the limbo will end and see funding partners and chamber board contracted with Access to move forward? 

It is time those who assess these taxes explain to residents how these revenues will be used.  Absent that, it is time to hear from the chamber on a go forward plan. Or will it again be too much like herding cats?  As  Councilman Mike Barber has been heard to say:  "What's the hold up?"