BURLINGTON — According to a report by The Coffey County Republican, the Coffey County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has decided to dissolve the organization.
Melissa Daily, the Chamber’s executive director, announced the decision earlier this month in an email to Chamber of Commerce members, and later in a Facebook post. She said the board made the decision after much deliberation, according to the Republican.
“There is much uncertainty when it comes to future funding and what will be available and how it will be distributed,” Daily said. “With this uncertainty, it has proven difficult to know how to move forward, and it is difficult to offer a job to a new director when there is no guarantee past the next year.”
Daily announced in October that she would be leaving the Chamber, since her family would be moving to the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas following the conclusion of the school year. Daily had served three years in the part-time executive director position.
The Chamber’s board of directors advertised for applicants to fill the executive director role; however, did not name a new director after conducting interviews, The Republican reported.
The Chamber had been funded through a combination of member dues and county funds allotted from a 3% bed tax imposed at three motels in Coffey County.
“I wish you all the best and hope that Coffey County officials serve you well with the vision they have for how our county should be represented and their goals to serve all businesses, no memberships required,” Daily concluded in her email.
Coffey County Economic Development Director Bobby Skipper said his office is not trying to take over the Chamber; however, his office will help facilitate some Chamber programs, such as the popular Chamber bucks, and continue to promote Coffey County businesses.
