Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Visitors Center belongs to the Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is not necessarily a good thing for the county, according to local lawyer Mike Armey.
Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitors commissioners heard recommendations about the property Thursday.
Since the facility was built with tax dollars, Armey suggested this wasn't an ideal situation for the county. Tax money is not to be used to build or provide a private corporation with a building, he said.
The CVB is under contract with the county council to promote tourism. The commission oversees the CVB's activities and approves funding.
This funding includes mortgage payments on the Visitor's Center.
He recommended the commission enter into an agreement with the CVB that the private corporation always maintain a visitors center. He suggested the CVB transfer the property to the county commissioners, who oversee county-owned property, in the future.
"Right now you have a situation where tax money was used to construct a building and used to pay a mortgage. When it's paid they can sell it to anyone and take the profit," Armey said.
He suggested a covenant be placed on the property deed indicating the building can only be used as a visitors center.
Commissioner John Elliott said he thought the building should be paid off when the county gets it.
Commission Treasurer Jan Carter said if the State Board of Accounts scrutinized the "books," the commission would be in trouble because the CVB owns the property.
"They built it on the assumption that you would fund them," Armey said. "They built it in good faith."
The commission approved several grant requests. The money is forwarded after organizers provide proof of payment and meet other requirements.
Approved were:
• $2,450 for the June 24 Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club's triathlon, as requested;
• $4,006 for the Aug. 12 Kosciusko Historical Society's 40th anniversary and the Warsaw Biblical Garden's 15th anniversary celebrations.
Funds to advertise in local media was subtracted from the original $5,004.96 request.
• Up to $4,000 for fireworks as requested by the Warsaw Community Development Corp., a maximum of $7,000 was requested.
• $12,000 for Lake City Skiers ski shows, $25,750 was requested.
• $3,000 for out-of-county billboard advertising of the Boys & Girls Club of Kosciusko County's Aug. 19 car show; and
• $3,000 for out-of-county billboard advertising of the Boys & Girls Club of Kosciusko County's professional rodeo, June 30 and July 1.
The commissioners reviewed a first quarter report presented by Karl Swihart, City-County Athletic Complex director, as well as a first-quarter report from the CVB.
The board also:
• Received a follow-up report from Kristi Pickerd regarding the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce Taste of Home Cooking School event held March 3.
Pickerd said the chamber hoped to sell 800 tickets, sold 1,000 and had to turn people away.
About half of the participants were from outside the county.
• Heard Bill Geist of Zeitgeist Consulting, Madison, Wis., will present the long-range tourism planning report June 13. Geist was hired to provide the report for $25,000 by the commission last fall.
The report is to identify the county's strengths, weaknesses and opportunities and suggest marketing tactics and infrastructure development.
• Heard the Visitors Center is staffed on Saturdays and also will be staffed during summer holidays.
KCCRVC members are John Elliott, Jan Carter, David Taylor, Joy McCarthy-Sessing, Faye Medlock and Jon Sroufe. Deb Wiggins was absent.
