CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – During the city mayor’s State of the City presentation at the Customs House Museum Friday, Mayor Kim McMillan announced Clarksville was working to establish itself as a tourist destination.
 
Clarksville currently has one of the 13 Welcome Centers operated by the Tennessee Department of Tourism’s Community and Industry Relations Division. More recently the completion of Fort Defiance Interpretive Center addition to the state’s Civil War Heritage Trails and featured on www.tnvacation.com certainly further the city’s reach for a tourist destination. However, it can be argued the city has precious little else to offer a family looking for vacation options.
 
According to McMillan, “From the annual sports tournaments and events the City currently hosts, to the River Fest and River and Spires concerts and events such as the Fireball Run, Clarksville is becoming a go-to city.”
 
The mayor explained to the gathered officials at Friday’s presentation that sales and lodging tax receipts exceeded more than $180,000 in August and September, according to Brenda Radford, Montgomery County Trustee. McMillan attributed this growth to the thousands of contract laborers associated with the Hemlock project as well as Josten’s, Bridgestone and other projects that are ongoing. The city mayor did mention the return of troops and growth of Austin Peay State University as large contributing factors. The question is how much growth and revenue increase is due to the military and how much to tourism?
 
In 2011 over 16,000 soldiers returned to Clarksville from the Middle East. In fact, the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System attributes most of its growth due in large part to the military and their families. The recent increase in special education students in the system mirrors Fort Campbell’s increase in families with special education needs children.
 
The Pentagon has just released a proposed budget that includes the closure of several military installations which means Fort Campbell will grow in population even more. The closures are bad news for the communities losing the military facilities, but great news for Clarksville. However, the success the city gains from military growth does not create a thriving tourism industry.
 
Mayor McMillan did explain there are moves the city, along with the help from private investors, is making to take advantage of the growth and create a more sustainable tourism draw. During Friday’s speech, McMillan verified the city was attempting to pursue the construction of a convention center once again. In previous attempts at the construction of a convention center, opposing arguments ranged from the belief it would be only for the wealthy and not benefit the community, all the way to where the facility should be located.
 
McMillan said, “We are exploring several opportunities to facilitate a public/private partnership to build a Convention Center that would increase tourism opportunities and revenue for both the City and County.”
 
In the renewed pursuit of the development of a convention center, McMillan explained the exploration team is looking into obtaining a new designation for Clarksville. Taking advantage of a new state law, the team will explore becoming a “Tourist District” which could minimize the financial risk normally associated with tourist development.  The city mayor told the officials she was in full support of bringing a convention center to Clarksville-Montgomery County.
 
“I believe the convention center is an idea whose time has come and that it will be an important step as we move Clarksville forward,” said McMillan.
 
During Friday’s presentation the mayor did not forget the more contentious issues facing her administration. McMillan said that the marina in Liberty Park lost its developer as she took office due to financial difficulties. However, the mayor boasted, the issues facing the beleaguered river development are now being rectified.
 
This did not mean the mayor had any more specific details on when Liberty Park, under construction and closed for several years, will open once again to the public. The basin in Liberty Park, which is the site for the future marina, has been open for boat owners to use for more than a few months but has been off limits to the general public.
 
During the mayor’s State of the City, she did not miss the opportunity to make a jab at the city council.
 
In describing the recent conflict over revising the city charter McMillan said, “I recently proposed a revision that would have addressed the issues the General Assembly identified while encompassing the changes that the City Council had already approved, twice. Although my proposed resolution passed with a majority vote, it did not receive the two-thirds support that would be needed when a second vote is necessary after the revised Charter is sent back from the General Assembly.”
 
 The contention stems from several council members stating they require more time to review the charter revisions. McMillan announced she intended to continue to pursue the charter single issue revision despite the council opposition. For the remaining charter revisions McMillan said she would appoint a commission to address all issues in question.
 
In the close of McMillan’s speech, the mayor takes one more swipe at opposition on the council by blaming the limitations of the city on those who do not believe in collaboration.
 
 “As I look to this next year, I know that our future is limited only by those who believe that collaboration is an outdated notion and who confuse politics for public service. In any community the size of Clarksville, disagreements are expected and delays will, regrettably, occur on occasion.” said the mayor.
 
 It was a positive note the city mayor ended on however. Looking toward 2012, Mayor McMillan told the group she only saw blue skies a head with calm winds.




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