Chehaw director asks Albany City Commission to delay funding cuts

ALBANY — Albany city commissioners were not especially receptive Tuesday to Chehaw Executive Director Don Meeks’ request that the city not cut its funding for the attraction over the next five years.

Meeks, pointing to the increased cost in running the park since he took over as director in 2016, told the commission new activities coming to the park soon will increase projected revenue by as much as $300,000 annually. That increase, Meeks said, could help Chehaw become more solvent if the city doesn’t cut its contributions to the attraction over the five-year term of its next contract.

The city, citing a desire to have the park become less reliant on taxpayer disbursements, which had surpassed $1 million annually, started trimming the amount of funds it budgeted to the park on an annual basis several years ago. Meeks said that while the park has made “a serious attempt” to wean itself from the city’s contributions, it has not been very successful in doing so.

“There are signs of progress,” Meeks said. “We’ve changed the way we do business. Every dollar we spend, everything we do at the park, every program we have, is focused on us becoming more independent from the city. But I don’t know if that’s been fast enough for some here.”

Mayor Dorothy Hubbard chastised Meeks for not “bringing us the information we need” to determine whether Meeks’ request makes fiscal sense. She said she, and possibly other commissioners, would compile a list of “facts and figures” they needed to consider Meeks’ request.

Ward I Commissioner Jon Howard pointedly questioned Meeks’ request.

“You’re asking us to hold off decreasing revenue another five years,” Howard said. “I have to ask you, if not now, when?”

Meeks replied that projected additional revenue should help in the park’s quest for financial independence. He said infrastructure work on a SPLOST VII-funded splash pad had already begun and should be open to the public in May. Meeks also said the addition of a zip line feature and expansion of the park’s camping area would help make the venue more attractive to visitors.

“I’ve been advised not to ask for more money; that’s fair,” the Chehaw general manager said. “What I am asking is that the commission not implement any more cuts over the next contract period so that we can realize the benefits of these improvements.

“We cannot create enough revenue in the next five years to become financially independent that quickly. But I want to emphasize that we are committed to making Chehaw financially independent.”

Meeks said around 8,000 people attended the Chehaw Native American Festival Friday and Saturday of last week, allowing the park to meet its budgeted income of $60,000. But hope of what was headed toward record-breaking attendance was washed away with Sunday rains that forced cancellation of the final day of the event.

The Chehaw executive director also told commissioners park attendance for the past three years has been around 100,000.