A topic that has been in limbo for some time in Jefferson now has a clearer direction.
Three years ago, the Greene County Chamber engaged in a project to bring a welcome center to downtown Jefferson in hopes of further promoting tourism of the county. In partnership with the Thomas Jefferson Gardens, the site for the welcome center was at the southeast corner of the downtown square. However, the Chamber recently announced that they will no longer pursue the project, due to “the Jefferson City Council failing to guarantee adequate funding from hotel/motel tax revenues to allow the Chamber to obtain the construction loan needed to complete the interior of the building and to support it on a long term basis,” in a statement from the Chamber.
Board President Omega Sang says it was a difficult decision for the Board to make, but they thought that they had the confidence of the “City Council would adhere to the voters’ directive in 2001 when they approved the hotel/motel tax with 80 percent of the proceeds going to the Chamber.”
In a statement from the City, Iowa Code requires that at least 50% of hotel and motel tax be used for recreation, convention, cultural, or entertainment facilities or for the promotion and encouragement of tourism and convention business in the city. Consistent with that requirement the Council adopted an ordinance shortly after the local ballot was approved providing that 80% of the revenue should be spent for the promotion and encouragement of tourism and convention business in the City, and that the remaining 20% should be used by the Parks and Recreation Department.” “Iowa law that authorizes an election on hotel and motel tax does not authorize the addition of language specifying how the funds are to be used as that law itself directs how the funds are to be used.”
Sang says “We were disheartened a year ago when the City Council declined to give the documentation we needed to move forward with the project. Since then, the Chamber has complied with all requests from the Council but came up short with the Council’s new policy for use of the hotel/motel tax fund.”
The City says the Chamber began incurring expenses to remodel the building, after the City declined any interest in acquiring the building as a welcome center due to the high renovation costs, maintenance and staffing.
With the projected increases in hotel/motel tax due to a new facility attached to Wild Rose, the City wanted to put together a policy in regards to the allocation of those funds. A three-tier system was put in place that allows the Chamber to have up to $30,000 for the promotion of tourism in the first tier. The second tier allows up to $20,000 for the construction and operation of the welcome center and the third tier allows for any excessive funds from the hotel/motel tax to be allocated to any qualified organization to promote tourism. Mayor Craig Berry says that the Chamber can apply for extra funds in the third tier, but that they aren’t guaranteed the extra funding.
Sang believes that the welcome center would’ve provided a hub for all tourism activities in Jefferson and Greene County, but they are financially unable to proceed with the project. Anyone who made contributions to the Chamber for the welcome center are being held by the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and they will provide those funds to whatever group completes the project.
The City respects whatever the Chamber’s decision is with respect to the welcome center and they look forward to continuing to cooperate with the Chamber in promoting tourism in Jefferson.