TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Tourism Group To Rehear Request

ADVERTISEMENT

By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: October 28, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Assistant County Attorney Jon Jouben said Monday there is not enough documentation to show that the Tourism Development Council violated federal or state constitutional statutes when it awarded a $5,000 grant to the Brooksville Ministerial Association.
The association sought TDC promotional assistance to hold its second annual music festival. It was originally slated for Memorial Day 2009 but has since been rescheduled for the Fourth of July weekend at Freedom Classic Park.
TDC Coordinator Sue Rupe said her group will reconsider the grant request at its Nov. 20 meeting.
The Rev. William Oakley, pastor of Brooksville's First United Methodist Church described the event in his application to the TDC as "a family-community gathering for fun, food, faith and fireworks — a multifaceted festival."
The TDC, when it approved the grant, did so as part of a unified agenda packet and did not have any debate on the matter before voting.
David Barkey, with the Southern Area Counsel of the Anti-Defamation League, fired off a letter to TDC Coordinator Sue Rupe, saying the $5,000 donation is "unfair and unconstitutional."
"(The) TDC's public sponsorship of a ministerial association's faith-based concert sends a message of exclusion and preference to non-Christian members of the community," Barkey wrote.
Although the association's application mentioned the festival might be religious in nature, the TDC "did not seek any further information about either the association or its planned event," according to Jouben.
On a Sept. 26 purchase order sent from the TDC to the county, the words "Christian music festival" are written.
Jouben cited the Florida Constitution's provision that no revenue of the state or governmental entity "shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution."
The TDC routinely hears requests from organizations and individuals seeking financial assistance for tourism-related events.
TDC members take into consideration several criteria including how many people it would attract to Hernando County, the economic impact to local motels and campgrounds and marketing and promotion of the event.
Rupe said last year's Fourth of July event drew 15,000 people to Hernando County and generated thousands of dollars for the local economy.
"It was probably the largest, single-day event we've ever had in Hernando County," Rupe said.
Rupe said organizers are planning a county-western theme and trying to book big-name entertainers, including Charlie Daniels. She said the festival would be held regardless of whether the TDC contributed promotional money.
In other TDC news:
The Super Bowl is still about three months away but already the tourism group is preparing for it.
"We are in contact with the Super Bowl task force and encouraging our hotels to put (promotional) packages together," Rupe said.
During Super Bowl XXXV, held in Tampa in 2001, visitors traveled the 45 minutes to Hernando County to find lodging because many of Tampa's hotels were fully booked.
While the Tampa Bay Rays may be the hottest ticket in town, Rupe said she has not seen any impact from this month's World Series on local hotels.
Because of Thanksgiving, Rupe said the next meeting of the TDC is at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Best Western Hotel off State Road 50, near Interstate 75.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT