By Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
Ingalls Harbor will be the launching site for a unique fishing tournament this fall.
Japanese angler Kota Kiriyama, who finished in the top 20 of last week’s Bassmaster Classic, will stage his first American Dreams tournament in the United States. The winner gets a free trip to Japan to tourney fish there.
Tami Reist, president of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said Kiriyama loves Decatur and Wheeler Lake and felt honored Kiriyama choose the city for his special event.
Kiriyama even grabbed the microphone during a weigh-in at Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex and told the crowd how much he loved Decatur, she said. He also stood by the visitors bureau’s booth during weigh-ins, signing autographs and giving away shirts, she said.
Kiriyama, who lives in Moody, previously organized tournaments in Japan in which the winners got to come to America and fish, Reist said, and Oct. 23-24 will be the first time he’s done the tournament in reverse. He arranged for Japanese television crews to tour Decatur on Wednesday to help promote the event in his home country.
“If we can get 100 anglers, we’ll be happy,” Reist said of drawing people to Kiriyama’s tournament. “And I’m sure we’ll get more than that.”
Kiriyama finished 16th in last week’s Bassmaster Classic at Lay Lake after reeling in a combined weight of 27.1 pounds. He has qualified for the event six times, including the past three years.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Meeting Notes
Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau Board on Thursday:
•Received $25,000 in state tourism money from state Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, to help pay for the second phase of Decatur’s way-finding signs.
•Approved a resolution of support for Huntsville International Airport seeking a low-cost passenger airline.
•Reported the bureau had $49,922 in revenue in January and $44,451 in expenses for a net profit of $5,471. For fiscal 2010, bureau expenses have exceeded revenue by $34,848.
•Reported the city collected $62,041 in lodging taxes in November, an 8 percent drop compared to the same month last year. The bureau received 75 percent of it to pay for operating expenses. For the year, lodging taxes are down 26 percent.
•Reported the $2-per-room-night occupancy fee generated $32,754 in November, down 7 percent compared to the same month last year. The fee has generated $136,283 in fiscal 2010, down 17 percent from the same period last year.
•Reported 41 percent of Decatur hotel rooms were occupied in November, down 3 percent from November 2008.
•Reported the Olympic Development Program soccer training camp filled 65 room nights in January, for a $40,500 economic impact. •Reported the Governor’s Cup soccer tournament in November filled 374 room nights, for a $241,000 economic impact; the State Cup soccer tournament the same month filled 535 room nights, for a $344,000 economic impact; and the Silver Sticks hockey tournament in November filled 91 room nights, for a $53,000 economic impact.
by Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau Board on Thursday:
•Received $25,000 in state tourism money from state Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, to help pay for the second phase of Decatur’s way-finding signs.
•Approved a resolution of support for Huntsville International Airport seeking a low-cost passenger airline.
•Reported the bureau had $49,922 in revenue in January and $44,451 in expenses for a net profit of $5,471. For fiscal 2010, bureau expenses have exceeded revenue by $34,848.
•Reported the city collected $62,041 in lodging taxes in November, an 8 percent drop compared to the same month last year. The bureau received 75 percent of it to pay for operating expenses. For the year, lodging taxes are down 26 percent.
•Reported the $2-per-room-night occupancy fee generated $32,754 in November, down 7 percent compared to the same month last year. The fee has generated $136,283 in fiscal 2010, down 17 percent from the same period last year.
•Reported 41 percent of Decatur hotel rooms were occupied in November, down 3 percent from November 2008.
•Reported the Olympic Development Program soccer training camp filled 65 room nights in January, for a $40,500 economic impact. •Reported the Governor’s Cup soccer tournament in November filled 374 room nights, for a $241,000 economic impact; the State Cup soccer tournament the same month filled 535 room nights, for a $344,000 economic impact; and the Silver Sticks hockey tournament in November filled 91 room nights, for a $53,000 economic impact.
by Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Jehovah's Witness conventions return to Huntsville in June
By Kay Campbell, The Huntsville Times
HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Jehovah's Witnesses from five states will return to Huntsville in June and July for conventions on three successive weekends, June 25-27, July 2-4 and July 9-11, officials announced Tuesday morning.
Each convention is expected to draw about 6,000 members and visitors. Each is expected to generate about $2.5 million in local sales tax.
"We thank you for bringing the tax money here -- that's important," Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said in his remarks. "But more than that, thank you for bringing the people here. Your emphasis on family values reflects the family values of our city."
A disagreement over parking fees meant that members were directed to other cities in 2009. The denomination holds 358 conventions in 90 cities in the U.S.
Battle was credited for assembling a negotiating team that included local hoteliers, the city's Parking and Public Transit, the Von Braun, the Visitors Bureau and, for the first time, representatives from Decatur's Visitors Bureau.
"We are glad to be back," said Dale Moore, a church member who handles local communications, citing the beauty of Big Spring Park, the centrality of facilities and the local hospitality of motel and restaurant workers. "We love it here."
HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Jehovah's Witnesses from five states will return to Huntsville in June and July for conventions on three successive weekends, June 25-27, July 2-4 and July 9-11, officials announced Tuesday morning.
Each convention is expected to draw about 6,000 members and visitors. Each is expected to generate about $2.5 million in local sales tax.
"We thank you for bringing the tax money here -- that's important," Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said in his remarks. "But more than that, thank you for bringing the people here. Your emphasis on family values reflects the family values of our city."
A disagreement over parking fees meant that members were directed to other cities in 2009. The denomination holds 358 conventions in 90 cities in the U.S.
Battle was credited for assembling a negotiating team that included local hoteliers, the city's Parking and Public Transit, the Von Braun, the Visitors Bureau and, for the first time, representatives from Decatur's Visitors Bureau.
"We are glad to be back," said Dale Moore, a church member who handles local communications, citing the beauty of Big Spring Park, the centrality of facilities and the local hospitality of motel and restaurant workers. "We love it here."
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Booze ballot battle
Are Sunday liquor sales good for the economy or another road to perdition? You’ll decide
By Catherine Godbey, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
The date is set and the lines drawn. On April 13, Decatur voters will decide whether to become the 13th location in Alabama to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
On one side are businesses and economic organizations arguing Sunday sales translate to more revenue for the city. On the other are some religious leaders and conservative citizens concerned that legalizing Sunday sales could mean increased alcohol consumption.
The Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce stands on the pro-sale side — now.
“Locally, this is probably in the top one or two things we want to get done because of the amount of money we are losing to other counties,” said John Seymour, chamber president. “We have talked about this issue for five or six years.”
Seymour said some prospective restaurants drop Decatur from consideration because of the lack of Sunday sales. Approving the alcohol sales would attract top-of-the-line restaurants and bolster existing restaurants, Seymour said.
“We have talked to enough restaurants in town to know they are very interested and supportive of this,” he said.
While permitting alcohol in eating establishments would benefit restaurants, it would not create a substantial revenue impact for the city. On-premises sales account for at most 10 percent of the city’s alcohol revenue, Seymour said.
Restrictions
Whether the Decatur City Council restricts Sunday sales to on-premises only could determine whether the chamber continues to support the measure.
“Off-premise sales account for 90 to 95 percent of all alcohol sales,” Seymour said. “If they (the City Council) want on-premise only, then we may not be interested anymore or support this as strongly. It is not a significant enough impact for the city.”
The City Council must hold a public meeting announcing any regulations or restrictions to Sunday sales at least 10 days prior to the vote.
According to Alabama’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, of the eight counties and four cities that have legalized Sunday sales, only two restrict purchases to on-premise sites.
Along with the Chamber, the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau endorsed the referendum. Both organizations, focused on bringing people to Decatur, whether permanently or temporarily, have pursued Sunday alcohol sales since 2005.
While the Chamber and the CVB promote the potential businesses and conventions Sunday sales could lure to Decatur, dissenters present a moral argument against the referendum.
‘Never the answer’
Mike Nix, minister at Beltline Church of Christ, sided with the opposition.
“I know alcohol is never the answer, and it certainly contributes to problems,” Nix said. “I’m certainly not in favor of encouraging further alcohol consumption.”
The Rev. Karockas Watkins at Emmanuel Church International did not support or oppose the referendum.
“I’m not for it but I’m not in opposition either or protesting against it,” Watkins said. “Every day is a sacred day and, actually, Saturday, historically in religion, is more of a sacred day.”
Although individuals, including Nix, Mayor Don Stanford and Councilmen Roger Anders and Gary Hammon, are morally oppose to Sunday sales, no organized effort against the referendum has emerged.
Southside Baptist Church Pastor Ben Hayes said leaders in most churches will probably speak out against the referendum but an organized opposition is unlikely.
“With the time frame, there just is not a lot of time to try to organize,” Hayes said. “But for the most part, we, as Southern Baptists, are against the purchase and use of alcohol on any day but especially Sunday, the Lord’s Day.”
If approved, Decatur would be the first wet city in a dry county to permit sales on Sundays. Passage of the referendum would allow alcohol sales citywide, excluding portions of the city located in Limestone County, after 12 p.m.
Even if the referendum passes, after the vote, the City Council must pass an ordinance legalizing Sunday sales.
Although in opposition to the issue, Stanford, Anders and Hammon said voters should decide if they want to expand Decatur’s alcohol availability.
In 51 days the voters will decide and cast ballots either joining the Chamber of Commerce and the CVB or some religious leaders and conservative individuals.
By Catherine Godbey, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
The date is set and the lines drawn. On April 13, Decatur voters will decide whether to become the 13th location in Alabama to allow Sunday alcohol sales.
On one side are businesses and economic organizations arguing Sunday sales translate to more revenue for the city. On the other are some religious leaders and conservative citizens concerned that legalizing Sunday sales could mean increased alcohol consumption.
The Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce stands on the pro-sale side — now.
“Locally, this is probably in the top one or two things we want to get done because of the amount of money we are losing to other counties,” said John Seymour, chamber president. “We have talked about this issue for five or six years.”
Seymour said some prospective restaurants drop Decatur from consideration because of the lack of Sunday sales. Approving the alcohol sales would attract top-of-the-line restaurants and bolster existing restaurants, Seymour said.
“We have talked to enough restaurants in town to know they are very interested and supportive of this,” he said.
While permitting alcohol in eating establishments would benefit restaurants, it would not create a substantial revenue impact for the city. On-premises sales account for at most 10 percent of the city’s alcohol revenue, Seymour said.
Restrictions
Whether the Decatur City Council restricts Sunday sales to on-premises only could determine whether the chamber continues to support the measure.
“Off-premise sales account for 90 to 95 percent of all alcohol sales,” Seymour said. “If they (the City Council) want on-premise only, then we may not be interested anymore or support this as strongly. It is not a significant enough impact for the city.”
The City Council must hold a public meeting announcing any regulations or restrictions to Sunday sales at least 10 days prior to the vote.
According to Alabama’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, of the eight counties and four cities that have legalized Sunday sales, only two restrict purchases to on-premise sites.
Along with the Chamber, the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau endorsed the referendum. Both organizations, focused on bringing people to Decatur, whether permanently or temporarily, have pursued Sunday alcohol sales since 2005.
While the Chamber and the CVB promote the potential businesses and conventions Sunday sales could lure to Decatur, dissenters present a moral argument against the referendum.
‘Never the answer’
Mike Nix, minister at Beltline Church of Christ, sided with the opposition.
“I know alcohol is never the answer, and it certainly contributes to problems,” Nix said. “I’m certainly not in favor of encouraging further alcohol consumption.”
The Rev. Karockas Watkins at Emmanuel Church International did not support or oppose the referendum.
“I’m not for it but I’m not in opposition either or protesting against it,” Watkins said. “Every day is a sacred day and, actually, Saturday, historically in religion, is more of a sacred day.”
Although individuals, including Nix, Mayor Don Stanford and Councilmen Roger Anders and Gary Hammon, are morally oppose to Sunday sales, no organized effort against the referendum has emerged.
Southside Baptist Church Pastor Ben Hayes said leaders in most churches will probably speak out against the referendum but an organized opposition is unlikely.
“With the time frame, there just is not a lot of time to try to organize,” Hayes said. “But for the most part, we, as Southern Baptists, are against the purchase and use of alcohol on any day but especially Sunday, the Lord’s Day.”
If approved, Decatur would be the first wet city in a dry county to permit sales on Sundays. Passage of the referendum would allow alcohol sales citywide, excluding portions of the city located in Limestone County, after 12 p.m.
Even if the referendum passes, after the vote, the City Council must pass an ordinance legalizing Sunday sales.
Although in opposition to the issue, Stanford, Anders and Hammon said voters should decide if they want to expand Decatur’s alcohol availability.
In 51 days the voters will decide and cast ballots either joining the Chamber of Commerce and the CVB or some religious leaders and conservative individuals.
UAH softball team takes tournament field wearing black
By Nancy Glasscock, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
The UAH softball team returned to competition Saturday at Wilson Morgan Park wearing black uniforms and blue ribbons in memory of victims of the campus shootings eight days earlier.
University of Alabama in Huntsville coach Les Stuedeman estimated 60 percent of the college’s softball players had been taught by professors involved in the tragedy. Of the UAH biology department’s 14 members, three were killed, three were wounded and a seventh was jailed.
Stuedeman described the mood on campus as “a lot of shock and disbelief,” and said sports can be a comfort to students after a tragedy.
“We’re lucky in a way because we have something else to focus on,” she said. “I’ve always seen athletics as a gift in times of sorrow because you have something else to put energy into that helps you cope.”
Saturday’s games were the team’s first since the Feb. 12 shootings. The school suspended athletic activities for a week after the tragedy.
Chris Jones, mother of Columbus State University third baseman Carrie Jones, said she hopes this weekend’s Charger Chillout allows UAH players to “break away emotionally.”
“You feel so badly for them because you know they’re struggling emotionally,” she said.
UAH sports information officials barred the school’s players from speaking to the media. Players’ parents said that while the shootings mentally hurt the team, players seemed emotionally strong and focused. Kevin Mackay said his daughter Abby, who plays third base, hadn’t expressed concern about school safety.
“You go to college to learn, to get a degree and gain employment,” said Kevin Mackay. “You can’t be afraid of that.”
Millie Johnson, whose daughters Kellie, a shortstop, and Krystal, a catcher, said Stuedeman encouraged the team with a heart-felt speech early last week.
“I still think it’s a great school,” Johnson said. “It was just one of those things that could happen anywhere, any time.”
UAH won all three of its games Saturday, defeating Barry 8-0, Ferris State 8-2 and Columbus State 6-5. The Chargers play two more games in the tournament Sunday.
UAH professor Amy Bishop is being held without bond on charges of capital murder and attempted murder in connection with the shootings.
The UAH softball team returned to competition Saturday at Wilson Morgan Park wearing black uniforms and blue ribbons in memory of victims of the campus shootings eight days earlier.
University of Alabama in Huntsville coach Les Stuedeman estimated 60 percent of the college’s softball players had been taught by professors involved in the tragedy. Of the UAH biology department’s 14 members, three were killed, three were wounded and a seventh was jailed.
Stuedeman described the mood on campus as “a lot of shock and disbelief,” and said sports can be a comfort to students after a tragedy.
“We’re lucky in a way because we have something else to focus on,” she said. “I’ve always seen athletics as a gift in times of sorrow because you have something else to put energy into that helps you cope.”
Saturday’s games were the team’s first since the Feb. 12 shootings. The school suspended athletic activities for a week after the tragedy.
Chris Jones, mother of Columbus State University third baseman Carrie Jones, said she hopes this weekend’s Charger Chillout allows UAH players to “break away emotionally.”
“You feel so badly for them because you know they’re struggling emotionally,” she said.
UAH sports information officials barred the school’s players from speaking to the media. Players’ parents said that while the shootings mentally hurt the team, players seemed emotionally strong and focused. Kevin Mackay said his daughter Abby, who plays third base, hadn’t expressed concern about school safety.
“You go to college to learn, to get a degree and gain employment,” said Kevin Mackay. “You can’t be afraid of that.”
Millie Johnson, whose daughters Kellie, a shortstop, and Krystal, a catcher, said Stuedeman encouraged the team with a heart-felt speech early last week.
“I still think it’s a great school,” Johnson said. “It was just one of those things that could happen anywhere, any time.”
UAH won all three of its games Saturday, defeating Barry 8-0, Ferris State 8-2 and Columbus State 6-5. The Chargers play two more games in the tournament Sunday.
UAH professor Amy Bishop is being held without bond on charges of capital murder and attempted murder in connection with the shootings.
College Sofball
2/21/10
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
UAH win in Charger Chillout
By staff reports
The University of North Alabama softball team got a pair of shutout victories Saturday at the UAH Charger Chillout to remain undefeated at the event. After the Lions got a no-hitter by Jennifer Sexton in a 6-0 win over Georgia College and State, freshman Laurin Watts recorded a 1-0 victory over No. 20 Wayne State at Wilson Morgan Park.
With the two wins, UNA improves to 6-4 overall and remains perfect at 5-0 in the Chillout. The Lions will wrap up play at the event Sunday with a 1 p.m. showdown against second-ranked North Georgia and a 3 p.m. game against Northern Kentucky.
Meanwhile, Alabama-Huntsville won two games Saturday in the school’s first athletic events since the fatal shootings at the school Feb. 12.
UAH blanked Barry 8-0 on Saturday morning and then defeated Ferris State 8-2 later in the day.
UAH canceled its Friday’s games against Kentucky Wesleyan and Northern Kentucky in memory of the three professors who died in the Feb. 12 attack.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
UAH win in Charger Chillout
By staff reports
The University of North Alabama softball team got a pair of shutout victories Saturday at the UAH Charger Chillout to remain undefeated at the event. After the Lions got a no-hitter by Jennifer Sexton in a 6-0 win over Georgia College and State, freshman Laurin Watts recorded a 1-0 victory over No. 20 Wayne State at Wilson Morgan Park.
With the two wins, UNA improves to 6-4 overall and remains perfect at 5-0 in the Chillout. The Lions will wrap up play at the event Sunday with a 1 p.m. showdown against second-ranked North Georgia and a 3 p.m. game against Northern Kentucky.
Meanwhile, Alabama-Huntsville won two games Saturday in the school’s first athletic events since the fatal shootings at the school Feb. 12.
UAH blanked Barry 8-0 on Saturday morning and then defeated Ferris State 8-2 later in the day.
UAH canceled its Friday’s games against Kentucky Wesleyan and Northern Kentucky in memory of the three professors who died in the Feb. 12 attack.
Friday, February 19, 2010
UAH softball tournament games pushed back a day
Tournament directors pushed back one day the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s softball games in The Chillout tournament at Wilson Morgan Park.
The Chargers were scheduled to play Friday, but UAH President Dave Williams canceled all athletic events through Friday after the Feb. 12 campus shootings. UAH will hold a memorial for slain professors Friday night at 7 in Spragins Hall.
The change forces UAH to play three games Saturday and three games Sunday. The Chargers’ opener is Saturday at 10 a.m. against Berry College.
The tournament starts Friday at 10 a.m. The University of North Alabama, which now has to play three games Friday and one Sunday game, is the other area university participating. The schedule is available at http://tinyurl .com/bw9ytq.
Bayne Hughes, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
The Chargers were scheduled to play Friday, but UAH President Dave Williams canceled all athletic events through Friday after the Feb. 12 campus shootings. UAH will hold a memorial for slain professors Friday night at 7 in Spragins Hall.
The change forces UAH to play three games Saturday and three games Sunday. The Chargers’ opener is Saturday at 10 a.m. against Berry College.
The tournament starts Friday at 10 a.m. The University of North Alabama, which now has to play three games Friday and one Sunday game, is the other area university participating. The schedule is available at http://tinyurl .com/bw9ytq.
Bayne Hughes, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Ingalls Harbor additions planned
By Evan Belanger, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
When locals see Decatur’s Ingalls Harbor on Alabama 20, most think the facility known for hosting fishing tournaments is complete, but it’s not.
That’s the message local officials brought to the City Council in a presentation Monday.
Requested by Council President Greg Reeves, the visual presentation showed the council and Mayor Don Stanford plans for five additional phases to cost an estimated $6.66 million.
Pavilions, museum
Among other features, the plans called for a pavilion capable of seating about 750 people, construction of a building that could house a river-heritage museum, and smaller pavilions.
They also included the placement of additional docks, landscaping, parking improvements, utility work and a lighthouse to mark the harbor’s entrance.
Landscaping architect John Godwin of Godwin and Barnett Architecture, who gave the presentation, said the improvements would complement the park’s primary use as center for fishing activities.
Recreation
It would also provide additional recreation opportunities for local residents who do not necessarily fish, he said.
“There are not any of your constituents who would not be able to use this,” he told the mayor and council.
Tami Reist, president of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said construction of the pavilion at an estimated cost of $2 million is the top priority for Ingalls Harbor, and that it is time for city to move the project forward.
Toward that goal, she said, the bureau is requesting a $1 million congressional appropriation this year. It is also seeking municipal funds and will supplement them with the city’s room-occupancy fund.
Established in 2001 at the request of the Decatur-Morgan County Hospitality Association, the room-occupancy fund collects $2 for every local hotel stay. Funds from the account go to promote local tourism.
Support for project
Reist estimated the fund would generate about $400,000 this year, compared to a debt payment of $161,919 for the original $4.2 million borrowed for Ingalls Harbor in 2006.
The Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Hospitality Association have submitted letters to the city expressing support for moving the Ingalls Harbor project forward, Reist said.
“When people look at Ingalls Harbor now, they think it’s completed, and it’s not,” she said.
Reeves said that while there are no formal requests for city funds, he thought he spoke for the mayor and the council in saying they are open to the prospect.
When locals see Decatur’s Ingalls Harbor on Alabama 20, most think the facility known for hosting fishing tournaments is complete, but it’s not.
That’s the message local officials brought to the City Council in a presentation Monday.
Requested by Council President Greg Reeves, the visual presentation showed the council and Mayor Don Stanford plans for five additional phases to cost an estimated $6.66 million.
Pavilions, museum
Among other features, the plans called for a pavilion capable of seating about 750 people, construction of a building that could house a river-heritage museum, and smaller pavilions.
They also included the placement of additional docks, landscaping, parking improvements, utility work and a lighthouse to mark the harbor’s entrance.
Landscaping architect John Godwin of Godwin and Barnett Architecture, who gave the presentation, said the improvements would complement the park’s primary use as center for fishing activities.
Recreation
It would also provide additional recreation opportunities for local residents who do not necessarily fish, he said.
“There are not any of your constituents who would not be able to use this,” he told the mayor and council.
Tami Reist, president of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said construction of the pavilion at an estimated cost of $2 million is the top priority for Ingalls Harbor, and that it is time for city to move the project forward.
Toward that goal, she said, the bureau is requesting a $1 million congressional appropriation this year. It is also seeking municipal funds and will supplement them with the city’s room-occupancy fund.
Established in 2001 at the request of the Decatur-Morgan County Hospitality Association, the room-occupancy fund collects $2 for every local hotel stay. Funds from the account go to promote local tourism.
Support for project
Reist estimated the fund would generate about $400,000 this year, compared to a debt payment of $161,919 for the original $4.2 million borrowed for Ingalls Harbor in 2006.
The Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Hospitality Association have submitted letters to the city expressing support for moving the Ingalls Harbor project forward, Reist said.
“When people look at Ingalls Harbor now, they think it’s completed, and it’s not,” she said.
Reeves said that while there are no formal requests for city funds, he thought he spoke for the mayor and the council in saying they are open to the prospect.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
CIty Council calls Monday meeting
The Decatur City Council will hold a special work session at 9 a.m. Monday on the seventh floor of City Hall.
Council President Greg Reeves said the Decatur Convention and Visitors Bureau will give a presentation on plans for Ingalls Harbor.
Also, the Decatur Emergency Medical Services Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday on the seventh floor of City Hall.
The meeting agenda states the only item of business is a resolution to support interventional cardiology at Decatur General Hospital without onsite surgery.
EVAN BELANGER, The Decatur Daily
Council President Greg Reeves said the Decatur Convention and Visitors Bureau will give a presentation on plans for Ingalls Harbor.
Also, the Decatur Emergency Medical Services Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday on the seventh floor of City Hall.
The meeting agenda states the only item of business is a resolution to support interventional cardiology at Decatur General Hospital without onsite surgery.
EVAN BELANGER, The Decatur Daily
Friday, February 12, 2010
Visitors bureau warns about coupon book scam
The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau is warning local businesses about a company claiming to sell advertisements for a discount coupon book associated with the bureau.
Bureau President Tami Reist said the business is a scam.
“The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau is in no way associated or under contract with Loyalty Publishing for the production of a coupon book or any type of electronic or printed material,” Reist said.
The company, located in Peoria, Ill., operates with the names of Loyalty Publishing, All-Star Publishing and Sky Publishing.
Catherine Godbey, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
Bureau President Tami Reist said the business is a scam.
“The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau is in no way associated or under contract with Loyalty Publishing for the production of a coupon book or any type of electronic or printed material,” Reist said.
The company, located in Peoria, Ill., operates with the names of Loyalty Publishing, All-Star Publishing and Sky Publishing.
Catherine Godbey, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
Friday, February 5, 2010
Complete the vision at Ingalls Harbor
Editorial, The Decatur Daily
Book a vacation at the beach and you will pay a hefty lodging tax that goes for a variety of improvements you may never use.
Most large cities impose a lodging tax that doesn’t usually impact citizens because they don’t pay it. They stay at home.
In Decatur’s case, local hotels asked the city almost a decade ago to impose such a tax. It has generated in excess of $3 million for improvements and incentives that help the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau bring visitors to town.
The tax is $2 per room per night and generated $448,000 last fiscal year.
The city borrowed $4.2 million to buy and develop Ingalls Harbor, an industrial eyesore that a previous city administration began changing into one of the grandest places along the Tennessee River.
The hospitality tax pays the debt service. Convention and Visitor board members this week saw plans for the next phase.
Called “Completing the Vision,” the plan appears to capture what former Mayor Lynn Fowler and council members at that time had in mind when they called for a first-class facility.
The plan calls for a $2.7 million pavilion the board would like the city to consider on the park’s east side as the next improvement. It would be a 25,000-square-foot, multi-purpose facility.
In all, the plan calls for $7 million in phased-in additions — all first class. The hospitality tax is also enough to pay that debt, once the original debt is paid.
Remember: The city may pay for these additions using someone else’s money, which is smart business.
Book a vacation at the beach and you will pay a hefty lodging tax that goes for a variety of improvements you may never use.
Most large cities impose a lodging tax that doesn’t usually impact citizens because they don’t pay it. They stay at home.
In Decatur’s case, local hotels asked the city almost a decade ago to impose such a tax. It has generated in excess of $3 million for improvements and incentives that help the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau bring visitors to town.
The tax is $2 per room per night and generated $448,000 last fiscal year.
The city borrowed $4.2 million to buy and develop Ingalls Harbor, an industrial eyesore that a previous city administration began changing into one of the grandest places along the Tennessee River.
The hospitality tax pays the debt service. Convention and Visitor board members this week saw plans for the next phase.
Called “Completing the Vision,” the plan appears to capture what former Mayor Lynn Fowler and council members at that time had in mind when they called for a first-class facility.
The plan calls for a $2.7 million pavilion the board would like the city to consider on the park’s east side as the next improvement. It would be a 25,000-square-foot, multi-purpose facility.
In all, the plan calls for $7 million in phased-in additions — all first class. The hospitality tax is also enough to pay that debt, once the original debt is paid.
Remember: The city may pay for these additions using someone else’s money, which is smart business.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
$2.7M pavilion a priority in Ingalls proposal
Plans to complete harbor
By Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
A $2.7 million pavilion heads the list of revised plans for completing Ingalls Harbor.
Architect John Godwin unveiled the revisions, called “Completing the Vision,” to the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Other city and tourism officials will begin reviewing plans this month. Money to begin implementing plans could become available this fall.
Overall, the plan shows more than $7 million in improvements and includes nine family-sized pavilions, paved plazas, a building for a museum and a landmark lighthouse tower where the Ingalls lagoon meets the Tennessee River.
If the city makes improvements in phases, tourism officials see a 25,000-square-foot pavilion on the east side of the park as a high priority.
About the same size of the old Point Mallard ice rink, the pavilion could serve a number of existing events and help attract new events, said Tami Reist, visitors bureau president.
Examples she listed included the NAIA softball and soccer tournaments, which could use the pavilion for banquets; Riverfest could move judging inside it and eliminate the judges tent, allowing more room for barbecue teams or band viewing; and large local companies could stage corporate events there.
Decatur Parks and Recreation, leaders of some local festivals and officials that plan bass tournaments all had input in making the revisions, Reist said.
Several bureau board members mentioned the Decatur General Hospital Foundation could move its annual Gala fundraiser to the pavilion and save thousands of dollars spent renting the 22,000-square-foot party tent and support equipment.
Trudy Grisham, foundation president, said Gala costs $35,000 to $40,000 just to stage the event and that’s excluding a catering kitchen, which the pavilion would have.
“We would love to have a place to have our event without having to put up a tent,” she said.
The first master plan for Ingalls was unveiled in 2003 and revised two years later to remove one of the lagoons for mooring boats.
The first fishing tournament occurred in November 2007, and Ingalls has hosted major fishing tournaments each year since.
Five areas
Completing the Vision focuses on five areas:
Area 1, where Riverfest occurs, would receive $856,000 in improvements, including sidewalks, five family pavilions, underground utilities, vendor connections and landscaping.
Area 2 is the dirt field on the west side of the lagoon. It shows $3.3 million in capital improvements, including $1.6 million for a museum building, $450,000 for a lighthouse tower and $50,000 for a fountain play area, larger than the Delano Park splash pad and more like Olympic Park in Atlanta.
Area 3 is the parking area above the boat launch. It calls for $34,000 in landscaping and irrigation.
Area 4 is the area fronting Alabama 20 from both ends of the park. It shows $145,000 in landscaping and irrigation.
Area 5 is the new pavilion area, which moved away from the waterfront so it doesn’t block the river view from the rest of the park.
Godwin’s plan for the large pavilion shows stone walls consistent with what the city is using for new park signage. It would feature walls that can swing up and make the pavilion an open-air facility when weather permits.
“This would be a structure that really gives Ingalls another way of being used,” he said.
Money to pay for improvements could come from the $2-per-night hotel room fee that generated $448,000 in fiscal 2009 and more than $3 million since implemented in 2001.
The city used that money to pay to create Ingalls Harbor, and Reist said that debt will be paid off at the end of fiscal 2010, freeing up money to start a new phase.
“If we take this in phases, we can make this happen,” Reist said.
By Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
A $2.7 million pavilion heads the list of revised plans for completing Ingalls Harbor.
Architect John Godwin unveiled the revisions, called “Completing the Vision,” to the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Other city and tourism officials will begin reviewing plans this month. Money to begin implementing plans could become available this fall.
Overall, the plan shows more than $7 million in improvements and includes nine family-sized pavilions, paved plazas, a building for a museum and a landmark lighthouse tower where the Ingalls lagoon meets the Tennessee River.
If the city makes improvements in phases, tourism officials see a 25,000-square-foot pavilion on the east side of the park as a high priority.
About the same size of the old Point Mallard ice rink, the pavilion could serve a number of existing events and help attract new events, said Tami Reist, visitors bureau president.
Examples she listed included the NAIA softball and soccer tournaments, which could use the pavilion for banquets; Riverfest could move judging inside it and eliminate the judges tent, allowing more room for barbecue teams or band viewing; and large local companies could stage corporate events there.
Decatur Parks and Recreation, leaders of some local festivals and officials that plan bass tournaments all had input in making the revisions, Reist said.
Several bureau board members mentioned the Decatur General Hospital Foundation could move its annual Gala fundraiser to the pavilion and save thousands of dollars spent renting the 22,000-square-foot party tent and support equipment.
Trudy Grisham, foundation president, said Gala costs $35,000 to $40,000 just to stage the event and that’s excluding a catering kitchen, which the pavilion would have.
“We would love to have a place to have our event without having to put up a tent,” she said.
The first master plan for Ingalls was unveiled in 2003 and revised two years later to remove one of the lagoons for mooring boats.
The first fishing tournament occurred in November 2007, and Ingalls has hosted major fishing tournaments each year since.
Five areas
Completing the Vision focuses on five areas:
Area 1, where Riverfest occurs, would receive $856,000 in improvements, including sidewalks, five family pavilions, underground utilities, vendor connections and landscaping.
Area 2 is the dirt field on the west side of the lagoon. It shows $3.3 million in capital improvements, including $1.6 million for a museum building, $450,000 for a lighthouse tower and $50,000 for a fountain play area, larger than the Delano Park splash pad and more like Olympic Park in Atlanta.
Area 3 is the parking area above the boat launch. It calls for $34,000 in landscaping and irrigation.
Area 4 is the area fronting Alabama 20 from both ends of the park. It shows $145,000 in landscaping and irrigation.
Area 5 is the new pavilion area, which moved away from the waterfront so it doesn’t block the river view from the rest of the park.
Godwin’s plan for the large pavilion shows stone walls consistent with what the city is using for new park signage. It would feature walls that can swing up and make the pavilion an open-air facility when weather permits.
“This would be a structure that really gives Ingalls another way of being used,” he said.
Money to pay for improvements could come from the $2-per-night hotel room fee that generated $448,000 in fiscal 2009 and more than $3 million since implemented in 2001.
The city used that money to pay to create Ingalls Harbor, and Reist said that debt will be paid off at the end of fiscal 2010, freeing up money to start a new phase.
“If we take this in phases, we can make this happen,” Reist said.
Sunday liquor details unclear
Council to debate restaurant-only sales
By Evan Belanger, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
Decatur voters will decide April 13 whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales, but it remains unclear what restrictions those sales might face.
On Monday, using a 2005 local act, the City Council scheduled a special election to decide the issue.
If the voters approve Sunday sales, that act will allow the council to control Sunday sales by ordinance. But it also lets city officials wait until the vote is as few as 10 days away before holding a public hearing that will reveal those regulations to the public.
Regulations
Some city officials said Tuesday they were not sure yet what those regulations would include or exactly when they would be decided.
“I think if it’s going to pass, it would be helpful to have some regulations to make people feel more comfortable with it,” said Council President Greg Reeves.
Reeves said he expects the council will begin discussing possible regulations as early as next month. He proposed one regulation that would limit Sunday sales to restaurants, excluding businesses that sell alcohol for off-premise consumption.
“I think that the primary motivation for Sunday sales is to bring restaurants to Decatur who require this as a condition,” he wrote in the e-mail to The Daily.
That proposal is likely to face opposition. John Seymour, president of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, said Tuesday the chamber would not support a restaurant-only restriction because off-premise sales represent a significant portion of total alcohol sales in the city.
Meanwhile, most other elected officials said they had not had time to consider possible regulations.
Monday’s decision schedules the Sunday-sales referendum to coincide with another special election.
It came as a last-minute addition to the council agenda, and most councilmen said Tuesday they were not aware of the upcoming vote until hours before the meeting.
While Councilman Gary Hammon called for the referendum in November, the council never formally discussed the proposal.
City Attorney Herman Marks said Tuesday the council could not wait until its next meeting and still schedule the referendum for April 13 because of advertising requirements.
He also said the matter was not included in the council’s published agenda when it was released Friday because city officials did not know at the time when the election would be.
Pending approval from the U.S. Department of Justice, voters will also decide April 13 whether to switch from a council-mayor form of government to a council-manager government.
Retired city employee Gary Voketz, who collected 1,100 signatures to force that election, said Tuesday he was pleased it would coincide with the Sunday-sales vote.
“I think the more people that vote the better,” he said.
Councilman Billy Jackson complained Tuesday the Sunday-sales referendum is not as likely to pass in a special election and alleged city officials were proposing it because they thought it would fail.
Hammon, Mayor Don Stanford and Councilman Roger Anders have all said they morally oppose Sunday sales, but they support the public’s right to choose.
Hammon said he proposed the Sunday-sales referendum to save money by tying two elections together. The council has already set aside $75,000 to cover the expense.
By Evan Belanger, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
Decatur voters will decide April 13 whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales, but it remains unclear what restrictions those sales might face.
On Monday, using a 2005 local act, the City Council scheduled a special election to decide the issue.
If the voters approve Sunday sales, that act will allow the council to control Sunday sales by ordinance. But it also lets city officials wait until the vote is as few as 10 days away before holding a public hearing that will reveal those regulations to the public.
Regulations
Some city officials said Tuesday they were not sure yet what those regulations would include or exactly when they would be decided.
“I think if it’s going to pass, it would be helpful to have some regulations to make people feel more comfortable with it,” said Council President Greg Reeves.
Reeves said he expects the council will begin discussing possible regulations as early as next month. He proposed one regulation that would limit Sunday sales to restaurants, excluding businesses that sell alcohol for off-premise consumption.
“I think that the primary motivation for Sunday sales is to bring restaurants to Decatur who require this as a condition,” he wrote in the e-mail to The Daily.
That proposal is likely to face opposition. John Seymour, president of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, said Tuesday the chamber would not support a restaurant-only restriction because off-premise sales represent a significant portion of total alcohol sales in the city.
Meanwhile, most other elected officials said they had not had time to consider possible regulations.
Monday’s decision schedules the Sunday-sales referendum to coincide with another special election.
It came as a last-minute addition to the council agenda, and most councilmen said Tuesday they were not aware of the upcoming vote until hours before the meeting.
While Councilman Gary Hammon called for the referendum in November, the council never formally discussed the proposal.
City Attorney Herman Marks said Tuesday the council could not wait until its next meeting and still schedule the referendum for April 13 because of advertising requirements.
He also said the matter was not included in the council’s published agenda when it was released Friday because city officials did not know at the time when the election would be.
Pending approval from the U.S. Department of Justice, voters will also decide April 13 whether to switch from a council-mayor form of government to a council-manager government.
Retired city employee Gary Voketz, who collected 1,100 signatures to force that election, said Tuesday he was pleased it would coincide with the Sunday-sales vote.
“I think the more people that vote the better,” he said.
Councilman Billy Jackson complained Tuesday the Sunday-sales referendum is not as likely to pass in a special election and alleged city officials were proposing it because they thought it would fail.
Hammon, Mayor Don Stanford and Councilman Roger Anders have all said they morally oppose Sunday sales, but they support the public’s right to choose.
Hammon said he proposed the Sunday-sales referendum to save money by tying two elections together. The council has already set aside $75,000 to cover the expense.
Plans to complete harbor
$2.7M pavilion a priority in Ingalls proposal
By Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
A $2.7 million pavilion heads the list of revised plans for completing Ingalls Harbor.
Architect John Godwin unveiled the revisions, called “Completing the Vision,” to the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Other city and tourism officials will begin reviewing plans this month. Money to begin implementing plans could become available this fall.
Overall, the plan shows more than $7 million in improvements and includes nine family-sized pavilions, paved plazas, a building for a museum and a landmark lighthouse tower where the Ingalls lagoon meets the Tennessee River.
If the city makes improvements in phases, tourism officials see a 25,000-square-foot pavilion on the east side of the park as a high priority.
About the same size of the old Point Mallard ice rink, the pavilion could serve a number of existing events and help attract new events, said Tami Reist, visitors bureau president.
Examples she listed included the NAIA softball and soccer tournaments, which could use the pavilion for banquets; Riverfest could move judging inside it and eliminate the judges tent, allowing more room for barbecue teams or band viewing; and large local companies could stage corporate events there.
Decatur Parks and Recreation, leaders of some local festivals and officials that plan bass tournaments all had input in making the revisions, Reist said.
Several bureau board members mentioned the Decatur General Hospital Foundation could move its annual Gala fundraiser to the pavilion and save thousands of dollars spent renting the 22,000-square-foot party tent and support equipment.
Trudy Grisham, foundation president, said Gala costs $35,000 to $40,000 just to stage the event and that’s excluding a catering kitchen, which the pavilion would have.
“We would love to have a place to have our event without having to put up a tent,” she said.
The first master plan for Ingalls was unveiled in 2003 and revised two years later to remove one of the lagoons for mooring boats.
The first fishing tournament occurred in November 2007, and Ingalls has hosted major fishing tournaments each year since.
Five areas
Completing the Vision focuses on five areas:
Area 1, where Riverfest occurs, would receive $856,000 in improvements, including sidewalks, five family pavilions, underground utilities, vendor connections and landscaping.
Area 2 is the dirt field on the west side of the lagoon. It shows $3.3 million in capital improvements, including $1.6 million for a museum building, $450,000 for a lighthouse tower and $50,000 for a fountain play area, larger than the Delano Park splash pad and more like Olympic Park in Atlanta.
Area 3 is the parking area above the boat launch. It calls for $34,000 in landscaping and irrigation.
Area 4 is the area fronting Alabama 20 from both ends of the park. It shows $145,000 in landscaping and irrigation.
Area 5 is the new pavilion area, which moved away from the waterfront so it doesn’t block the river view from the rest of the park.
Godwin’s plan for the large pavilion shows stone walls consistent with what the city is using for new park signage. It would feature walls that can swing up and make the pavilion an open-air facility when weather permits.
“This would be a structure that really gives Ingalls another way of being used,” he said.
Money to pay for improvements could come from the $2-per-night hotel room fee that generated $448,000 in fiscal 2009 and more than $3 million since implemented in 2001.
The city used that money to pay to create Ingalls Harbor, and Reist said that debt will be paid off at the end of fiscal 2010, freeing up money to start a new phase.
“If we take this in phases, we can make this happen,” Reist said.
By Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
A $2.7 million pavilion heads the list of revised plans for completing Ingalls Harbor.
Architect John Godwin unveiled the revisions, called “Completing the Vision,” to the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Other city and tourism officials will begin reviewing plans this month. Money to begin implementing plans could become available this fall.
Overall, the plan shows more than $7 million in improvements and includes nine family-sized pavilions, paved plazas, a building for a museum and a landmark lighthouse tower where the Ingalls lagoon meets the Tennessee River.
If the city makes improvements in phases, tourism officials see a 25,000-square-foot pavilion on the east side of the park as a high priority.
About the same size of the old Point Mallard ice rink, the pavilion could serve a number of existing events and help attract new events, said Tami Reist, visitors bureau president.
Examples she listed included the NAIA softball and soccer tournaments, which could use the pavilion for banquets; Riverfest could move judging inside it and eliminate the judges tent, allowing more room for barbecue teams or band viewing; and large local companies could stage corporate events there.
Decatur Parks and Recreation, leaders of some local festivals and officials that plan bass tournaments all had input in making the revisions, Reist said.
Several bureau board members mentioned the Decatur General Hospital Foundation could move its annual Gala fundraiser to the pavilion and save thousands of dollars spent renting the 22,000-square-foot party tent and support equipment.
Trudy Grisham, foundation president, said Gala costs $35,000 to $40,000 just to stage the event and that’s excluding a catering kitchen, which the pavilion would have.
“We would love to have a place to have our event without having to put up a tent,” she said.
The first master plan for Ingalls was unveiled in 2003 and revised two years later to remove one of the lagoons for mooring boats.
The first fishing tournament occurred in November 2007, and Ingalls has hosted major fishing tournaments each year since.
Five areas
Completing the Vision focuses on five areas:
Area 1, where Riverfest occurs, would receive $856,000 in improvements, including sidewalks, five family pavilions, underground utilities, vendor connections and landscaping.
Area 2 is the dirt field on the west side of the lagoon. It shows $3.3 million in capital improvements, including $1.6 million for a museum building, $450,000 for a lighthouse tower and $50,000 for a fountain play area, larger than the Delano Park splash pad and more like Olympic Park in Atlanta.
Area 3 is the parking area above the boat launch. It calls for $34,000 in landscaping and irrigation.
Area 4 is the area fronting Alabama 20 from both ends of the park. It shows $145,000 in landscaping and irrigation.
Area 5 is the new pavilion area, which moved away from the waterfront so it doesn’t block the river view from the rest of the park.
Godwin’s plan for the large pavilion shows stone walls consistent with what the city is using for new park signage. It would feature walls that can swing up and make the pavilion an open-air facility when weather permits.
“This would be a structure that really gives Ingalls another way of being used,” he said.
Money to pay for improvements could come from the $2-per-night hotel room fee that generated $448,000 in fiscal 2009 and more than $3 million since implemented in 2001.
The city used that money to pay to create Ingalls Harbor, and Reist said that debt will be paid off at the end of fiscal 2010, freeing up money to start a new phase.
“If we take this in phases, we can make this happen,” Reist said.
Monday, February 1, 2010
A tourism balancing act
Upgrades are needed to lure visitors, parks officials say
By Catherine Godbey, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
Decatur Parks and Recreation puts tourism into a core philosophy: Help pay for parks by creating first-class facilities that attract tournaments and visitors who boost tax revenue.
But staying on top in the recreation industry is a constant battle.
If the city fails to upgrade the facilities, revenue generated through the occupancy tax will decrease, parks officials warn. And the occupancy tax generated through local hotels funds improvements.
“When you’re on top, everyone shoots for you. Jack Allen is on top right now but every new facility is trying to beat Jack Allen,” said Parks Assistant Director Tom Chappell. “Unless we add new fields and amenities, Jack Allen will become outdated.”
For now, the 11-field Jack Allen Recreational Complex reigns as one of the top facilities in the Southeast, but other local attractions, including the J. Gilmer Blackburn Aquatic Center, are struggling.
With no new features since 2005, the water park could suffer decreased attendance.
“The fear at Point Mallard is that we are losing customers because there hasn’t been a new attraction. The people are looking for new things to do, and they will go elsewhere to do them,” Chappell said.
Officials, citing the two new water slides in Cullman and the addition of a Lazy River in Nashville, said the threat to the aquatic center will increase this season.
“We used to pull people from those areas, but they may not come here this time. They may decide to stay closer to their homes,” said Parks Director Jeff Dunlap.
To keep Point Mallard competitive, the city needs to upgrade the 40-year-old park, officials said. Dunlap said the theme and water park associations recommend adding a new attraction every year.
“Most parks add a new ride every year. They may skip a year, but the ride better be twice as good,” said Marketing Coordinator Julianne Lowman.
If Point Mallard does not add a new attraction in the next two years, Dunlap fears the aquatic center’s attendance will fall, negatively impacting the park’s income.
Dunlap pointed to past administrations as proof of what inaction can cause.
“When Gilmer Blackburn constructed Point Mallard, man, we were on top of the world. Everybody talked about Decatur,” Dunlap said.
“Then we went forever and didn’t do anything and other cities passed us.”
In 1985, the city returned to the recreation elite with the building of the Wilson Morgan Softball Complex.
“Wilson Morgan was at the top as far as softball complexes. We were getting everything we wanted and then we didn’t do anything and started losing tournaments,” Dunlap said. “We can either do a little and get bypassed or we can continue to stay on top.”
Suggested additions to Decatur’s park system include speed slides and a Lazy River at Point Mallard, locker rooms and two soccer fields at Jack Allen, a new baseball and softball complex in Southwest Decatur and two courts at the Jimmy Johns Tennis Center.
Combined, the upgrades would cost approximately $18 million. Dunlap suggested going to the bond market to borrow funds and argued the additions would pay for themselves by attracting more visitors.
“Let someone else come into town and bring those tax dollars. The more people that come in from out of town, great, because that’s just providing more income and revenue to the city so the rest of us can benefit,” Lowman said.
Council President Greg Reeves, who is parks and recreation liaison, acknowledged the impact of sports in Decatur, but questioned whether investing millions of dollars into a single attraction is responsible.
“There is no question the work started with Gilmer Blackburn and extending to Ingalls Harbor and Jack Allen has proven to be a wise investment for the city,” Reeves said. “With the economy the way it is, we need to concentrate on the fundamentals and making sure everything is in good condition.”
While obligating $3 million for a Lazy River is unlikely, spending $100,000 for two tennis courts at Jimmy Johns that could bring in more tournaments is more manageable, Reeves said.
“All of the expenses we’re asking for, it is not a question of how much it costs to do it, it becomes a question of how much does it cost the city if we don’t do it,” Chappell said.
By Catherine Godbey, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
Decatur Parks and Recreation puts tourism into a core philosophy: Help pay for parks by creating first-class facilities that attract tournaments and visitors who boost tax revenue.
But staying on top in the recreation industry is a constant battle.
If the city fails to upgrade the facilities, revenue generated through the occupancy tax will decrease, parks officials warn. And the occupancy tax generated through local hotels funds improvements.
“When you’re on top, everyone shoots for you. Jack Allen is on top right now but every new facility is trying to beat Jack Allen,” said Parks Assistant Director Tom Chappell. “Unless we add new fields and amenities, Jack Allen will become outdated.”
For now, the 11-field Jack Allen Recreational Complex reigns as one of the top facilities in the Southeast, but other local attractions, including the J. Gilmer Blackburn Aquatic Center, are struggling.
With no new features since 2005, the water park could suffer decreased attendance.
“The fear at Point Mallard is that we are losing customers because there hasn’t been a new attraction. The people are looking for new things to do, and they will go elsewhere to do them,” Chappell said.
Officials, citing the two new water slides in Cullman and the addition of a Lazy River in Nashville, said the threat to the aquatic center will increase this season.
“We used to pull people from those areas, but they may not come here this time. They may decide to stay closer to their homes,” said Parks Director Jeff Dunlap.
To keep Point Mallard competitive, the city needs to upgrade the 40-year-old park, officials said. Dunlap said the theme and water park associations recommend adding a new attraction every year.
“Most parks add a new ride every year. They may skip a year, but the ride better be twice as good,” said Marketing Coordinator Julianne Lowman.
If Point Mallard does not add a new attraction in the next two years, Dunlap fears the aquatic center’s attendance will fall, negatively impacting the park’s income.
Dunlap pointed to past administrations as proof of what inaction can cause.
“When Gilmer Blackburn constructed Point Mallard, man, we were on top of the world. Everybody talked about Decatur,” Dunlap said.
“Then we went forever and didn’t do anything and other cities passed us.”
In 1985, the city returned to the recreation elite with the building of the Wilson Morgan Softball Complex.
“Wilson Morgan was at the top as far as softball complexes. We were getting everything we wanted and then we didn’t do anything and started losing tournaments,” Dunlap said. “We can either do a little and get bypassed or we can continue to stay on top.”
Suggested additions to Decatur’s park system include speed slides and a Lazy River at Point Mallard, locker rooms and two soccer fields at Jack Allen, a new baseball and softball complex in Southwest Decatur and two courts at the Jimmy Johns Tennis Center.
Combined, the upgrades would cost approximately $18 million. Dunlap suggested going to the bond market to borrow funds and argued the additions would pay for themselves by attracting more visitors.
“Let someone else come into town and bring those tax dollars. The more people that come in from out of town, great, because that’s just providing more income and revenue to the city so the rest of us can benefit,” Lowman said.
Council President Greg Reeves, who is parks and recreation liaison, acknowledged the impact of sports in Decatur, but questioned whether investing millions of dollars into a single attraction is responsible.
“There is no question the work started with Gilmer Blackburn and extending to Ingalls Harbor and Jack Allen has proven to be a wise investment for the city,” Reeves said. “With the economy the way it is, we need to concentrate on the fundamentals and making sure everything is in good condition.”
While obligating $3 million for a Lazy River is unlikely, spending $100,000 for two tennis courts at Jimmy Johns that could bring in more tournaments is more manageable, Reeves said.
“All of the expenses we’re asking for, it is not a question of how much it costs to do it, it becomes a question of how much does it cost the city if we don’t do it,” Chappell said.
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