Record straightening

guest commentary by Claude Legris, executive director of the Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion Commission

The recent development that Fort Smith City Directors are contemplating an election to ask citizens to enact a 1% tax on prepared food has certainly generated its share of comment on The City Wire. At last count there were 98 comments, many of which addressed the subject at hand — the identification of a funding source for the Fort Smith Convention Center to replace the lapsing state turnback dollars. This issue has been a topic of conversation in recent years, and has indeed been rated THE top priority by city directors for the past two years.

As executive director of the Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion (A&P) Commission, I can attest to the fact that our city leaders are on target regarding the importance of the issue, not only to the survival of the local hospitality industry, but for all Fort Smith citizens who invested in the complex through a self-imposed sales tax in the late 1990s.

The coming months will no doubt bring much discussion between the city board, the A&P Commission and the Convention Center Advisory Board about the many details that would become part of the possible consolidation of the convention center and the A&P. The resulting organization would more closely mirror similar agencies throughout Arkansas, but more importantly would achieve the top priority of our leaders. Depending on mutually agreed upon objectives there would also be more flexibility for the facility operations.

The purpose of this guest commentary however, is not to debate the issue but to clear the record regarding my past, present and future involvement with the proposal at hand. So I beg your kind indulgence to address some misconceptions that have been referenced in recent comments pertaining to my personal and professional life.

• Fact 1: Following a 22-year career in facility executive marketing capacities in Tulsa, Nashville and Philadelphia, my family and I accepted an opportunity to return to our home town in 2001. This was a chance to be closer to our family and to continue my hospitality career as executive director of the Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion Commission. The renovation and expansion of the Fort Smith Convention Center was in the final stages of construction, complete with a director on staff.

• Fact 2: While my background in the marketing of new public assembly facilities was considered a major factor by A&P Commissioners in their hiring decision, there was no inference in any way regarding my involvement with future management of the convention center. The decision to leave Philadelphia for Fort Smith was a once in a lifetime opportunity to return to our roots and to make a contribution to the community. (Yes, I AM the mysterious “person from out East.”)

• Fact 3: Contrary to rumors, it is not a foregone conclusion that I will eventually be the de facto manager of the convention center should it be consolidated with the A&P, though I appreciate the confidence placed in my abilities by many during these discussions to date.

• Fact 4: The city of Fort Smith did NOT misappropriate Arkansas tourism turnback dollars in recent years. While revenues generated by events in the facility were deposited in the general fund by the City and then directed to various projects, the city was very careful about their use of the all turnback dollars for convention center uses including some capital improvements that were not part the original renovation process due to the lack of funds.

My bosses — the seven members of the A & P Commission — our staff and I are all excited at the prospect of contributing to a resolution of the convention center issue. With the mutual creativity and cooperation of the A&P, the convention center and the city directors along with the support of our citizens, we are hopeful that the end result will enhance the city’s ability to attract more events to the benefit of the hospitality industry and everyone in Fort Smith and the surrounding area.