South Jackson Gets New Face

A grant from the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is helping to spruce up the park in front of South Jackson Civic Center in Tullahoma.
Several civic-minded individuals spent Saturday planting trees, shrubbery and flowers according to a landscaping plan designed by Ralph Graham.
The $4,100 Community Foundation grant for the landscaping beautification project, was obtained by Keep Coffee County Beautiful last year, according to Scott Riddell, KCCB executive coordinator.
"And we decided to do (the project) at South Jackson Civic Center," said Riddell. "We've got a lot of plants going in, and a lot of mulch going in. The community has really helped us out and we really appreciate them."
"I'm really excited about the (landscape) designs," said Coleen Saunders, president of South Jacks0n's operations committee. "When we get it all in— we are going to be lovely."
"South Jackson is one of the first businesses or organizations when you come in (to Tullahoma). And it would be a great welcome to the community."
Among those working on Saturday, were Teri Kanan and her two daughters, Julie and Kristi.
Kanan, who is also a Tullahoma Pride Committee member, says her family enjoys volunteering their time for efforts like this.
"Our family is really big on doing community service and helping in anyway we can."
Photo: Teri Kanan and her daughter, Kristi, plant shrubs around South Jackson's flagpole. © Russel Mobley/MTA

Millennium Returns To The Fold

After a four-year absence, the Millennium Repertory Company finally returns to the Manchester Arts Center.
Representatives from both non-profit organizations signed an agreement Wednesday night in the MAC's theater.
Millennium had produced theatrical productions at the arts center, beginning in 1996 with Barefoot In The Park, until the two separate groups, broke from each other, following the destruction by fire of the original MAC building at 909 Hillsboro Boulevard, on December 3, 2006. Since that time, Millennium has been producing plays at various venues in the area.
Noel Clements, Millennium president, said over the last few years, Millennium has held productions at the Hands-on Science Center, Duck River Utility Commission building, Franklin County Library and Bean's Creek Winery.
“We also, along with the Community Playhouse and South Jackson Civic Center, produced Beyond the Rain by Weldon Payne,” said Clements. “We've been kind of floating around.”
During this time, the Manchester Municipal Arts Commission, acquired a new building, located at 128 East Main Street, with their first production in May of 2008.
In 2010, Millennium also attempted to establish a theater on the Manchester square. Although Millennium performed two successful productions there, due to its small size, the building was “not quite what we were looking for,” said Clements.
Melissa Cartwright, MMAC chairman, sees the time spent apart as a good learning experience for both organizations.
“I think we both saw we needed each other,” said Cartwright. “I think they learned the (difficulties) in having a building and paying insurance costs, and we saw the difficulties in paying for the productions and finding the people to do it.”
Cartwright said that she wanted MMAC and Millennium to bridge their differences for a long time.
"Right after the fire was when things fell apart," said Cartwright. “Things were said at a time of crisis that created a wedge between the two groups.”
MAC and Millennium have been in negotiations for almost two years.
“Joel Muehlhauser and Weldon Payne were both instrumental in talking to both sides to see what needed to be worked out,” said Cartwright. “I think it is going to be extremely positive for Manchester and the surrounding area.”
Weldon Payne, a local playwright and artist, agrees.
"I think we have one of the best theaters in Middle Tennessee," said Weldon "And we need everybody together."
Cartwright said that Millennium will cover the cost of productions, while retaining the box office receipts. MMAC will be able to receive money from sponsorships, in addition to the rent Millennium will pay for use of the facility.
According to Clements, Millennium will produce five “main stage” plays during the rest of 2011. The first, Dearly Departed will open on May 13. The abbreviated season will also include The Diary of Anne Frank.
Clements also said that Millennium will also work with MMAC to establish a “black box” theater at the MAC, to hold small productions, a reader's theater, and lectures.
"It's taken a lot of negotiations on both sides (for the joint venture)," said Joel Muelhauser, MMAC treasurer of the Manchester Municipal Arts Commission, which manages the arts center. "And we've come through some difficult times. But I think we are going to have a good organization now. It's going to work out best for the community, the Millennium and the Manchester Municipal Arts Commission.”
“It's a win, win, win situation."

The More Things Change—Well . . .

A simple question—who serves on the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center Board of Directors in the capacity of secretary and treasurer?
TFAC President Troy McFarland said Friday that he did not know.
Granted, there have been several changes in the board's makeup since the general membership elected a new seven-member board last fall, during a special election. Within days of the election, Terri Daugherty, recording-secretary, resigned. By January, at least two more board members were gone. According to McFarland, Roxane Garrett, treasurer, resigned. Keith Moore was removed from the board, through the use of a new and controversial bylaw. The bylaw states that the board can expel any member, for any reason, from the organization.
According to McFarland, a new set of bylaws were adopted in December. The center's website, which was last updated on January 20, says that "any member wishing to request a change in the current proposed ByLaws should do so in writing and delivery [sic] the request to the Arts Center."
McFarland has stated that even though the clause allows any member to be removed, it is meant "primarily for board members or chairs who have taken on a level of commitment and are not doing anything." He said that it was used by other organizations that he has been involved with, such as the Highland Rim Kiwanis Club.
Moore was kicked out in January.
The three elected-board have been replaced by Jon Gray, Becky Shelton and Stewart Copeland. They were either appointed by McFarland or elected by the remaining board members. Gray said he was elected; McFarland said he made the appointments, which was allowed by the new bylaws.
Repeated requests by MTA to view the minutes of recent board meetings to confirm the actual procedures used have been refused by McFarland.
And now, McFarland refuses to say who the TFAC officers are.
Last June, McFarland's predecessor, Lucy Hollis, refused to reveal the number of board members or their names. She also refused to allow the center's 990 tax forms to be viewed, as required by Internal Revenue Service rules.
After center members and the City of Tullahoma began questioning TFAC's operations, Hollis resigned last August.

TAEDC Seeks Funds to Hire Full-time Director

The newly formed Tullahoma Area Economic Development Corporation is seeking a budget of $153,059 for the next fiscal year, with a large portion of it used to hire a full-time executive director.
TAEDC Chairman Lynn Sebourn made the request at Monday's meeting of the Tullahoma Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
The proposed budget estimates the director's salary at around $80,000. It also lists an additional $19,651 in benefits.
Sebourn told the city board that he realizes that Tullahoma will have a tight budget for the next fiscal year, “But the (TAEDC) board feels that it is appropriate for the city to allocate some resources to (hire a director) . . . . we'll get the city moving again, and hopefully that will help pay for itself.”
According to Sebourn, the TAEDC director will serve as the main business contact for the city.
“We expect that person to help facilitate any issues with the city and the various utilities and the various boards and all of the things involved in running a business in Tullahoma.”
The director would also be charged with helping existing businesses provide more jobs for the area and to recruit new companies, said Sebourn.
Mayor Troy Bisby said that it would be difficult for the city to provide TAEDC with that size of budget, “Some of these items, we may have to partially fund . . . . and work towards finding resources to fill in the holes.”
Sebourn replied that the board could work with that.
“Our primary concern is to get someone in here to work with us.”
The TAEDC budget also lists $4,500 for printing and publications, $8,000 for legal services, $10,250 for recruiting and marketing, $5,000 for advertising, $5,250 for special events, and $7,500 for travel and training.