Festival of the Bells committee member addresses inaccurate comments by executive director of Highland County Convention and Visitors' Bureau
To the editor:
Knowing I do not have a computer, much less a Facebook page, an employee from a Hillsboro business printed off recent questions, comments, etc. from Mr. Bob Lambert's page and gave them to me.
I was amazed at how many statements made and "facts" quoted were so inaccurate and untrue.
I will try to respond, but due to space, I won't address every comment. (You can see his July 15 and after postings for the questions and comments.)
First, I do not know how much sales tax was collected from the Festival of the Bells vendors. We (members of the Festival committee) are not the sales tax police.
Second, probably no city income tax was collected from the entertainers. I don't know if the city has an ordinance on this, but I would assume the performers at the Colony Theater would be under the same criteria. Do they pay city income tax for a one-night performance?
Third, the Festival committee has never paid for use of the "taxpayers'" county courthouse lawn.
The minimal water used has always been allowed by the county commissioners. Have you received new information we are unaware of?
Fourth, the electric used during the Festival is paid entirely by the committee. We have our own meters. The Festival committee pays 12 months a year.
No outside food vendor was given preference over a local vendor. Where did you get this information? No local vendor was turned down; but seven out-of-town vendors were! There were no out-of-state vendors, either.
The Festival committee brought in 10 round tables with umbrellas and chairs, so I don't understand the "nowhere to sit while you eat" statement.
Mr. Lambert, you stated two different figures the performers left town with back to Nashville. First, you stated $80,000, then $90,000. Where did you get your inaccurate figures?
For Friday and Saturday nights' entertainers, we paid a total of $36,500. Nancy Burton was correct: the area churches, some businesses and individuals collect and pay for the Christian performers on Thursday night.
The food booths in front of one store did have some foreign workers, but I spoke with all of them and they spoke fluent English to me.
I'm unaware of the two "big corporate sponsors" that pulled out. Please inform me.
These next comments are not related to Mr. Lambert's Facebook page, but to clarify comments heard every year after the Festival:
1. The committee pays for all trash removal during the festival.
2. The committee hires a street sweeper to sweep after the festival beginning around 2 a.m. Sunday morning.
3. The committee pays the Hillsboro City Police for security during the Festival.
Finally, Mr. Lambert, do you have a problem with the Festival drawing anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 to Hillsboro and Highland County these three days?
Is the Convention and Visitors Bureau against bringing tourism to Hillsboro and Highland County?
Maybe we can ask the director. Oh, I forgot, Bob, you are the director!
Sincerely,
Chuck Emery
Festival of the Bells
Food Vendor Chairman