Meeting Notes

Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau board of directors conducted the following business during its monthly meeting Thursday:

•Reported state Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, helped get $25,000 in state tourism money to pay for more way-finding signs for Decatur. The signage will direct visitors to the Jack Allen Soccer Complex and the Delano Park Spashpad, and include welcome signs with paid sponsor names.

•Reported the bureau had $40,532 in income in February and $50,656 in expenses for a net loss of $10,123. Income for the first five months of fiscal 2010 showed a net loss of $44,971. Treasurer Wade Weaver said the net losses are due to lagging lodging taxes, and the bureau has made as many cuts to expenses as it can and still be able to promote the city and county. The bureau has reserves to ride out the economic downturn, he said.

•Reported the city collected $49,533 in lodging taxes in December, down 4 percent from the same month in 2008. The bureau receives 75 percent of the lodging taxes for operating expenses. For the fiscal year, lodging taxes are down 23 percent.

•Reported the $2-per-night hotel occupancy fee generated $27,605 in December, down from $28,140 for the same month in 2008. The fund has $163,888 for the fiscal year, down 15.7 percent from the same time period in 2008.

•Reported 33 percent of Decatur hotel rooms were occupied in December, down 1 percent from the same month in 2008. For the 2009 calendar year, the room occupancy rate was 43 percent, down 9 percent from 2008.

•Reported Decatur was one of 85 sites chosen to be part of the Alabama Passport for Fitness. Visitors who complete a historic walking tour in Decatur will get a stamp to add to their passport.

•Reported it sent a bid to host the NCAA Division II men’s and women’s cross country championships in 2013. Events will occur at the Oakville Indian Mounds trails in cooperation with the Jesse Owens Runners Club.