Crossville council waiting on Chamber approval of contract changes, removes chamber report from agenda

A majority of the Crossville city council agreed to remove the regular monthly report by the Chamber of Commerce from the council's agenda but the chamber could still speak at the council meeting if needed.

The council also briefly discussed the contract for services with the chamber after some proposed changes suggested by the city are under consideration by the chamber's board. The council also approved the chamber report card to be used to report to the city.

Chamber President Brad Allamong, right, addresses the Council.

The chamber report has followed the city's marketing report where a slot for Cumberland County government or the Chamber could report to the council. The county government has not taken advantage of the opportunity but the chamber director/president Brad Allamong has.

At that point in the agenda, Mayor James Mayberry called for the chamber report but council member J. H. Graham said the next item on the agenda was a discussion of the chamber's contract. Allamong took the podium to present the chamber's new scorecard that will be used to report to the city on activities and progress toward goals. Allamong also presented council with copies of the new Lifestyles magazine that he said the Chamber uses to raise funds making about $14,000 from the publication. Copies of the magazine are sent to those inquiries about visiting, retirement and moving to the area and industrial prospects.

Near the new car stores; not near the price!

PARK PLACE MOTORS

Allamong pointed out some numbers from the report card including 412,000 website hits for the month. The chamber has several contacts in progress with potential new businesses prospects.

The chamber board will discuss the city proposed changes to the contract and will get back to the city at a future date. The council unanimously approved accepting the chamber report card to be used for reporting to the city.

Councilman Danny Wyatt addressed the monthly chamber report saying that the report card needed to go through the city manager who would provide information he thought important to the council members. Councilman Scot Shanks sought clarification to make sure that the council could still speak before the council if they needed to.

Council discussion on Chamber part 1

Council discussion on Chamber part 2

Wyatt said that the manager was doing a good job of keeping the council informed and as the CEO of the city, he needs to be in the loop to know what information needs to be sent along to the council.

Mr. Wyatt moved that the item be removed from the council agenda on the first reading of an ordinance the council must approve three times to make the change. The motion, seconded by Mr. Graham, was approved with three votes in favor from Wyatt, Graham and Pamala Harris. Mayor Mayberry and Mr. Shanks voted no.

Graham returned the discussion to the contract requesting that a clause be added to inform the city manager of the details of any prospective industrial prospect. Ms. Harris also clarified that the contract would not automatically renew each year but come back before council.