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Local News
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Saturday, May 17, 2008, 3:00 AM
Nonprofits turn to city for funding By Rochelle Moore | Daily Times Staff Writer The Wilson City Council has split on a decision to give the Oliver Nestus Freeman Round House $50,000 in annual funding. Thursday, Jean Jones, vice president of the African-American museum's board, asked the city council for the funding to help offset the museum's operating costs, which average about $25,000 a year. "We are not just representing ourselves, but Wilson," Jones said. "It is an attraction for travelers to visit our center. We are in dire need at this time to keep the Round House open." Councilwoman Doris Jones made a motion to approve the funding, but Councilmen A.P. Coleman and James Johnson III suggested that the Round House board seek funding from the Wilson County Tourism Authority before seeking the funds from the city. The council voted 3-2 in favor of the funding request. The vote, however, will need to be taken again because it lacked a majority of the full seven-member City Council. Councilmen Donald Evans and Bob Thaxton did not attend Thursday's meeting due to family medical issues. Council members Gwen Burton, Jones and Coleman voted in favor of the $50,000 request while Councilmen Bill Blackman and Johnson voted against the funding. The council needed an affirmative vote from four of its seven members to pass, city attorney Jim Cauley said. The only other way it could pass is if it is part of the 2008-09 budget ordinance, Cauley said. "I support the Round House too, but I just don't think this is the time to do it," Mayor Bruce Rose said, suggesting that the request be included with all other nonprofit funding requests. "I haven't seen a proposal on what they want to do with the money," Johnson said. "They stepped up tonight out of line of all the other nonprofits and said they wanted $50,000. Number one, I thought it was out of order." This year, Diversified Opportunities is asking for $50,000, the Wilson Crisis Center has asked for $15,000 to $20,000 and Johnson is aware of funding needs from the baseball museum. "We have had for four years the baseball museum ask for this," Johnson said. "I'm not trying to slight anybody. Everybody comes to us because they think we have a bottomless pit of money." Blackman added that the only way to provide the additional funding was to increase taxes. Doris Jones disagreed. "Why are we talking about raising taxes when the city's spending money like shaking the trees?" she said. Blackman suggested that the city establish a new committee of residents who can review all nonprofit funding requests each year, including the eight that have automatically received city grants each year. "I would like to see the city with members not affiliated with any of these organizations and let that committee start approving what money goes to the nonprofits," Blackman said. "I know we've been giving to certain organizations each year but some people think it's unfair. I don't want to take anything away from anybody but a lot of people don't think it's fair that we give to eight." The nonprofits the city regularly supports with grants include Imagination Station, the Arts Council, Opportunities Industrialization Center, Wilson Community Improvement Association, Wesley Shelter, Positive Change for Youth, Flynn Christian Fellowship Home, and Hope Station. The council voted 4-1 in favor of creating the committee this year to review all nonprofit requests. Burton, also an employee of OIC, voted against the change. rochelle@wilsontimes.com | 265-7818
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