Responding to recent criticism of the consolidated Chamber of Commerce arrangement in Junction City, members of the City Commission expressed their support for the organiation on Tuesday night. The organization includes the Chamber Activities Division, EDC, Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and Military Affairs under one umbrella.
Mayor Mick McCallister, stated that there’s been a lot of scrutiny over the EDC issues in recent weeks. He said the community must grow its’ capabilities, and there are opportunities to being jobs to Junction City. “Lately there’s been those that want to dismantle the consolidation effort. Now’s not the time to throw the towel in. Now is the time to find solutions, make a plan, execute that plan. And I’ve heard a lot of things that we should do this or do that as far as the consolidation goes. But not one of those naysayers have said what the alternative is. What is the solution, what is the suggestion? All I’ve heard are complaints and bitterness, but nobody has stepped up and said here’s what we need to do.”
McCallister concluded his comments with a message, “To the naysayers on the consolidation, you need to get out of the way and let people do their jobs, and let them do their jobs properly so we can move forward in this community.”
City Commissioner Pat Landes, stated he’s a big supporter of Chamber consolidation, and added a team effort is needed. “We need people that want to work together and support the common goals of the Chamber and EDC and the MAC and the CVB. Once we find those people we can set our course and go ahead.” Landis added the Chamber is still in its infancy.
Landes added, “We just had an EDC director for just less than a year. Things didn’t work out. That’s okay. That happens, it happens in any field anywhere. So to say that the consolidation agreement is failing is absurd. And we need to realize that, and find the right people to get this thing going forward.”
Landes noted he feels the consolidated chamber has been good for the community and to walk away from that would be a big mistake. He noted there may need to be some tweaking to it , but he supports the consolidation.