CIty Council approves Hotel/Motel Tax for a 2nd Time Over Concerns of local Hotel Operators.

Even though several Crossville hotel operators showed up to express concern about the city's plan in increase the hotel/motel tax the city council approved the second resolution necessary to send the matter on to the General Assembly.

With the county's current tax at 7.5 percent, sales tax at 9.75 percent and an additional 3 percent proposed by the city the total tax on a hotel room in Crossville would be 20.25 percent. As of 2015, only one county in Tennessee had a higher hotel/motel tax rate than the amount that could be charged to visitors if the matter is approved.

City Council, city manager, and city attorney meet to

discuss the city's proposed hotel/motel tax.

The motion to approve the resolution for the second time as required in the state law was made by Councilman Danny Wyatt and seconded by councilman J. H. Graham.

David Padgett with the local Hampton Inn told the council while travelers just passing through might not be affected, his corporate clients would since they set budgets and if the cost rises they would likely cut back on their nights staying in Crossville. According to Padgett, the additional 3 percent city tax on top of the 17.25 percent for sales tax and the county hotel/motel tax represents a 17 percent increase in the tax on local hotel rooms. “That's pretty substantial,” added Padgett.

Crossville hotel operators came to express their thoughts

about the proposed tax.  David Padgett of the Hampton Inn, center 

spoke on behalf of other local hotel businesses

With the local market softer and Padgett saying his occupancy rate stands at 72.35 percent instead of the 85 percent of larger communities like Nashville, Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, areas that have more to offer in amenities outside of tourism like better restaurants and attractions.

“I'm actually OK with an increase, but let's phase it in over a while,” urged Padgett.

Visit Cookeville Ford Lincoln website.

Mr. Graham outlined the reasons for the proposed action, “This tax, if approved by the General Assembly, will be used for the increase of tourism, to provide more events and more functions to attract more individuals to stay with us in this area.”

In comparison to the hotel/motel tax for Cookeville, they charge 15.75 percent total and have no city hotel/motel tax and are now 1.5 percent less than Crossville but that difference will increase to 4.5 percent less if the Crossville increase goes through. Mayor James Mayberry said he was not sure if that difference would save anyone money with the cost of driving from Cookeville to Crossville though the hotel operators pointed out that if a ball team or other group needed several rooms that difference would add up and could make the difference where people decide to stay.

City Manager Greg Wood said that one of the reasons the city is looking at the tax is because the county does not use revenue in the way the city plans to.

Council Member Pamala Harris said she could see both sides and that there were more things to do in Crossville than just the State Park and Golf.

The Crossville Cumberland Co. Sports and Event Committee was briefly discussed and Doug Parkey who is working to organize the group told the council that group planned to maximize the use of the facilities the city currently has, look at what possible facilities the community might need and recruiting sporting and other events to the community like festivals and concerts. Parkey pointed out that he expects there to be donations from businesses and others to support the council and that not all the funding would come from the new tax.

All four of the council members present voted in favor of the measure and sending the request for action to the state legislature. Councilman Scot Shanks was not present at the meeting.   

December City Council meeting Oglesby's last with discussion on water, wastewater and Sports Council.

The December Crossville city council meeting will be the end of an era and the final regular meeting of longtime Crossville City Clerk Sally Oglesby.

Retiring Crossville City Clerk

Sally Oglesby

After 32 years, Oglesby will be hanging up her keyboard and turning the job of City Clerk to Valarie Hale who has worked as the assistant city clerk for a number of years in preparation for the handover. A special reception in honor of Oglesby is set for Tuesday, December 19, 1 PM at Crossville City Hall, Oglesby's final day.

The December 12 council meeting starts at 6 PM and will be preceded by the audit committee meeting at 5:15 PM and the Beer Board at 5:45 PM.

Several items on the agenda relate to utility services including water supply and wastewater treatment put forth in last weeks work session by Mayor pro-tem J. H. Graham. Graham is proposing that the city offer water sales to the Crab Orchard Utility District (COUD) as he says they are beginning a search for additional water supply. In addition, Graham proposed that the city study the possibility of taking water from the wastewater plant and treat it as they do in California to make it safe as drinking water.

Both of these topics were brought up at the end of the council's December work session and were not on the agenda for the work session. Graham said he'd been studying the future raw water report by J. R. Wauford and the future needs of the community from the Army Corps of Engineers. According to Graham that without a new water source Crab Orchard will need a new supply.

Graham said he would like to have the council approve at the December meeting for the city manager to offer up to 1 million gallons of water to COUD at the current wholesale rate with no required minimum purchase.

“It is important to me as a city council member,” explained Graham, “that the Crab Orchard Utility District knows that we are in the water business and that we have water to sell. I feel that it is important that we extend the olive branch.”

Graham also discussed water issues in Los Angeles where he said some 50 percent of water following wastewater treatment is then run through a process to make it safe for drinking when all of it was once pumped into the Pacific Ocean. According to Graham, that water used by LA is filtered, treated by reverse osmosis and then bombarded by high-intensity ultraviolet light. That water is pumped into the aquifer for future use from wells and the process is less costly then pumping water from the Colorado River.

Crossville Wastewater Treatment Plant

Graham said he would like to see the city investigate the possibility of a similar system to be discussed with engineers and get cost estimates for such a program.

Council will also discuss and consider establishing a Crossville Sports Council that would be made up of local community leaders who would promote the city and county's current sports events and programs as well as look to expand and add additional opportunities. They would also act as a central clearinghouse to make sure tournaments and other events do not conflict with those in the City and County, or other activities nearby that could impact the success of sporting events.