JOHN COFFELTContributor

The Public Building Authority (PBA), a seven member volunteer board selected by Manchester’s Mayor and Alderman, announced Sunday night that each member submitted notice of their resignation. 

The move comes prior to the PBA signing a lease accepting the city’s plan to take over operation of the conference center. The timetable for the transition is set to begin July 1, but members of the conference center staff have voiced uncertainty about their positions in the process.    

“(In resigning) this will allow Mayor Hobbs the opportunity to select new PBA Board Members to sign the City’s lease agreement and carry out his plans for the new tourism department. The PBA Board recently voted for the lease agreement and wish nothing but the best for the new PBA Board and the new department,” the announcement reads.

 The Manchester PBA was formed in 2020 to provide oversight of the management of Manchester/Coffee County Conference Center building, a county/city asset.

 In the statement sent to local media, the PBA said that the planned use of the conference center is not in line with the current concept of a conference center.

 “Manchester Mayor, Joey Hobbs,…updated (us) on his intention to utilize the property as office space for his new tourism department and welcome center. With this new use of the building, the Manchester Board of Mayor and Alderman (BOMA) are not planning to provide funding for what we have known as the Manchester/Coffee County Conference Center,” the announcement reads.

 The PBA said that “Due to the lack of funding and change of use for the property, the current PBA Board members have submitted notice of their resignation to the mayor effective immediately.”

 This is a developing story. Mayor Hobbs has been reached out to for comment. His response will be added as it becomes available. 

 Members of the PBA are Tiffany Hillsman, Chairman Megan Jackson, David Bradley, Ken Huddleston, Jake Shelton, Holly Jones and Zach Lowry.

In response to the resignation, Manchester Joey Hobbs posted a lengthily response Sunday to the transition of the Manchester Coffee County Conference Center from the PBA operations to that of the city under a Tourism Department.

In his statement, Hobbs said that the PBA was still responsible for its spending of the $350,000 that the city contributes to the Conference Center and that an independent audit would be commissioned in the future. He added over 15 applicants applied for the position of general manager, and a similar number has applied for the position of events coordinator. Hobbs said that only three of the 27 staff have currently applied for their jobs.

Hobbs’ statement reads as follows:

“There has been a lot of information about the City “takeover” of the conference center in the media. It is no mystery that the Conference Center has had its share of struggles and detractors, but I do believe that we can find a solution for the conference center that is most beneficial to our city. Until this budget cycle (when I proposed the city have oversight of the conference center), the most recent configuration of financial support for the center was that the city government gave $350,000 a year to the PBA, which was responsible for the oversight and the management of the conference center. No local sales tax, no state sales tax, nor any property tax goes to the conference center. That $350,000 comes from the Hotel/Motel tax, which by state law can ONLY be spent on tourism related matters. (This budget year 2025-2026, the Hotel/Motel tax is projected to be $945,000).

“The oversight for the $350,000 was provided by the PBA, who is now resigning. They are resigning, but they are still responsible for the management and spending that has occurred to this point. As for the future of the conference center, an independent audit is being scheduled to identify deficiencies and areas of improvement.

“I do believe that a tourism center located directly off the interstate would be beneficial, and the conference center is the logical place to house that. I am slated to visit a nearby city tourism department and center on July 1 to learn more about the potential benefits. As for the current conference center employees, of the 27 part-time employees, only three have applied with the city to continue working at the conference center, and the current general manager did not apply. There have been over 15 applicants for the position of general manager, and a similar number has applied for the position of events coordinator. If you have an event already booked at the conference center, no worries! Your event will go on as planned.

“In closing, I know there are a lot of strong opinions and feelings about the conference center. I am going forward with what I believe to be the best option at this point. The tourism dollars as budgeted still go to the conference center, we realign and reimagine its management, and we grow its purpose in our town. In closing, I try to read all of your comments, although I can’t reply to them all. If you feel very strongly, the best bet is to call my office and come in to chat in person.”