Should the PCB Tourist Development Council Be Dissolved?

Last month, with the county commissions' acquiescence or blessing if you like. The TDC made some very sad decisions, if, and that is a big if, they were looking to restore the public’s trust they have lost. 
 

First, the county commission voted to seat a new member without bothering to interview all the candidates or give them a chance to speak prior to the vote. 
 

Then the TDC doubled down after promising (there is a bad joke in there somewhere) to allow the public the opportunity to question the final three candidates for the Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO spot. 
 

The bed tax is one of the largest pools of money the county commission has been entrusted to oversee. And if we are being honest, they have all but washed their hands of it, choosing to let Commissioner Peace reign over the operation. 

Which begs one simple question. Who voted for that? In short, no one. 

Commissioner Peace was appointed to her position under the auspices. She would only serve the remaining part of the term she was appointed to fill. Only to have a change of mind and use incumbency as a weapon to ward off any challengers. 

But even if she had to run against someone and won. The voters in Bay County would never vote to allow a single person to be the gatekeeper of all things PCB-TDC. 

More importantly, they deserve better from the rest of the county’s commission. Regardless of whether or not you agree with any action Peace takes. 
 

I get it, the Hippocratic oath for any politician is. First, do no harm to your next election. So, it is up to you to let the commissioners know inaction will play as big a role as to how you vote as the wrong action. 
 

A good way for the TDC, and if they don’t act, the county commission, to restore some of the public’s trust is to bust up the “it is only for tourists” cabal. And CEO Griffitts should lead the charge. 

While in the legislature, he continually fought for funds to help clean up Lullwater Lake. Only to have the governor veto them because that is a local project that should be funded locally. 
 

Lucky for us the statute regarding how the bed tax can be used states the following: To finance beach park facilities, or beach, channel, estuary, or lagoon improvement, maintenance, renourishment, restoration, and erosion control, including construction of beach groins and shoreline protection, enhancement, cleanup, or restoration of inland lakes and rivers to which there is public access as those uses relate to the physical preservation of the beach, shoreline, channel, estuary, lagoon, or inland lake or river.
 

At the next TDC meeting, CEO Griffitts should have this on the agenda for a vote. If it is not on the agenda or it fails to pass the county commission should step in and vote to fund the project. 
 

They should also vote to use the bed tax money to complete the Highpoint Boat Ramp Project. The entire county should benefit from the real-life impact tourists have on it. Not just a select few. 
 

If these and other steps are not taken in the coming days to restore trust. Then you have the answer to the question.  Should the TDC be dissolved?