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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970 Chamber, Mayor Meet Over MemoTO THE CITIZENS OF COLLEGE STATION Two cities as closely located as Bryan and College Station can serve this area most efficiently if they work cooperatively, It will be most unfortunate for both cities if we can't pull together for the greater good of our area, and for the continued advance- ment of Texas A&M University. However, in the lest few days, a semi- private letter from our Mayor to a small, but representative group of our citizens, concerning the possible need of a separate Chamber of Com- merce for College Station appeared as a front page feature article in The Daily Eagle, and at about the some time. radio station KORA came out opposing separate organizations. I feel that this is strictly a College Station decision, and that it is unfortunate that Bryan opposition appeared before our citizens knew anything about the existing problems. It seems to me that if ever a city needed an active Chamber of Commerce, it is the City of College Station. The Bryan - College Station Chamber of Commerce has been very active in matters of importance to Bryan, and to the University, but has taken little or no interest in the City of College Station. The result has been that we get no industries or business at College Station, this in turn means that our citizens make most of their purchases in Bryan. This is terrifically important to you as citizens if you realise that the lc sales tax that goes to cities amounts at the present time to $100,000 a year to College Station, and approximately $600,000 a year to the City of Bryan. Since the population of Bryan is approximately twice that of College Station, the prob- able ratio of sales tax intake of the two cities would be far less than the present ratio of nearly 6 to 1, if we had the types of businesses this city needs. - r The citizens of College Station are at this time, spending more than two times as much money in Bryan as they are in Col- lege Station. If this is true, and I think it is, the citizens of Col- lege Station are paying at least $200,000 a year to support the City of Bryan. We could finance many needed improvements for College Station for for less than that amount. This $200,000 paid to the City of Bryan by the citizens of College Station exceeds the total ad valorem taxes that our city now collects each year by approximately $60,000. I feel that for this economic reason, we should have our own Chamber of Commerce that can publicize the opportunities and need for certain light industries, and businesses that do not now exist in College Station. The present joint Chamber of Com- merce cannot advertise these opportunities because of the opposi- tion of industries and businesses in Bryan already operating in these fields. Remember float lc of every dollar spent (an all items sub- ject to the sales tax) outside of our city, is a loss to improve- ments to our city. Most sincerely, I I doe Orr Chamhei z: Bryan - College V ta n Cha mber of Come president Lynn Stuart said today he has planned "nothing definite yet" in answer to College Station Mayor D. A. (Andy) Anderson's proposal. In a memo addressed to a few citizens the mayor raised r t Answ the possit ity that College Station might better be served by a separate chamber of com- merce. Stuart said he thought the board of direct would GREAT SAVINGS PLANS made even better by new legal rates at FIRST BANK & TRUST. Adv Mayor to Get Reply er Mayor "certainly try to talk to the mayor." Mayor Anderson mentioned in his memo dated March 24 that if a College Station chamber were organized it should include a cross section of the city and not be allied to old groups. See MAYOR Page 2 (Continued from page 1) group decided to meet to see Questioned as to whether the what could be done that no one C o l l o g e Station Progress else was taken care of, Atkins Association might be included said. as one of the "old groups," the "We're not trying to be a high mayor said yes. powered organization with a big Bill Atkins, president of the membership," Atkins said. He Association, told the Eagle added the question raised by today that forming a separate Anderson would undoubtedly chamber for College Station had come up, but he didn't know never been on the agenda. whether it would be an agenda "We haven't even discussed item or just an informal it," he said. "Some of the in- discussion. dividual members got the The other officers of the mayor's letter, but we haven't organization are Dr. M. R. taken a stand any more than Callihams, vice president and any other civic organization." Don Dale, secretary - treasurer. The goals of the progress Anderson said his memo was association are simple, Atkins a method of testing the pulse said. "We want to promote civ of the city to see what the pride in College Station as a feelings on forming. a separate separate town. It's just as much chamber were. He was promp. a part of our living environment ted, he said, by the lack of as our own homes." official chamber representatives That is the reason, Atkins at the formal opening of the said, the association has taken city hall and the ground. + an interest in promoting better breaking. College Station schools. The mayor told the Eagle he In the past, he noted, they had no "strong feelings against had sponsored open forums for the B -CS Chamber," but he political candidates and on the thought a separate chamber first school bond issue. might do more for College The group wrote a charter Station. three years ago, but the group The mayor added that he is bad been meeting a couple of a member of the B -CS Cham- years before that, Atkins he r. Friendly competition recalls. between the two cities is a good He said the late Rev. Norman t h i n g although he said Anderson, Presbyterian cooperation, to i s es minister, had felt a lack of civic pride in College Station The hamber, Mayor [eet Over Mem o, tatement Issued By KATE THOMAS And ED HORN Of The Eagle Staff flege Station Mayor D. A. y) Anderson and the n- College Station Chamber )mmerce apparently settled differences they may have in . meeting Monday eight. e meeting resulted after !rson had circulated to "a citizens" a strongly worded io soliciting opinions on the for a separate chamber commerce for College rson alluded in tha memo "Promises _and un- idines not fulfilled" by has never knowingly been any favoritism." He noted he and the mayor had worked together on industrial prospects and reported a chamber representative had attended the opening of the city hall. After the Monday night meeting, Stuart issued a news release. In full, it said: "In regard to the recent publicity given to a letter from Mayor D. A. Anderson to a .group of College Station citizens, thyre was a meeting with Mayor Anderson, myself and some members . of the vWcutive committee of the Bryan - College Station Cham4W, of Commerce. Mayor An son showed us. �e$� another -%t4rte 't hicc he had written to the editor of _ - the Daily Eagle. "This letter in its en- tirety is clearly stated and indicates the need for the two communities to work together for mutual development - "It is the responsibility of the Bryan - College Station Chamber of Commerce to work for the See CHAMBER, Page 2 Chamber Execs, CS Mayor Talk Over Differences (Continued from page 1) citizens only. I was prompted role in the renowned space to do so by a number of solid research of the facility, citizens of College Station, who development of the Bryan- asked that the `pulse' be College Station area for the determined. I did so personally. benefit of all citizens." "2. The College Station Asked whether College Station Progress Association has dote w i 11 receive any special much for our city in many treatment as a result of the areas. I would be the last to meeting, Stuart told the Eagle: belittle its efforts. I appreciate "All I'm going to say is what's what the group has ac- in my statement." complished, and is planning to Questioned as to whether the do. By inference, it could be mayor had agreed to drop his deduced that I was negating survey or whether he intended their efforts. What I implied, to continue it and act upon it, or intended to imply, was that Stuart replied, "you'll have to if a new Chamber was formed, ask him. it should be made up of a cross - "I think he covers that in his section of the community and letter," said the chamber business, and not necessarily president. "I wouldn't presume the Association. Actually, the to say what the mayor's going Association might well be the to do." I nucleous (sic) around which it A secretary at Anderson's is formed, if at all. office at the Texas Forest < I did not belittle the work Service told the Eagle the of the B CS Chamber of Com mayor had left town and would coerce to the extent that close not return until next week. The full text of Mayor An- reading and interpretation might imply. As the Eagle properly Berson s memo was reported in e stated at one point, I have no full text the Sunday Eagle. Here his letter t o th the e strong feelings against the is o chamber, I am a member of editor, which he showed to the chamber executives: such. I will say however, that' "Regarding your so- called m my opinion, they have not 'scoop' in the Bryan (sic) Daily done as much for College Sta- Eagle of Sunday March 29, 1970, tion as I feel they could have. I would like to make a few And, I know of many citizens j . points clear for t he re puj:,�,, and some businesses that feel ern `s�sa _.. a copy nr,. Sarm " ; of the memorandum to the 11 4. I stated in my comments j press: ra ther, to a number of to the Eagle that I lo,,ked upon the cities of College Station and! Bryan, as one community —and]. I do not make this statement lightly. We can not do other - wise. We must work together closely and harmoniously in all areas. However, this is not to deny that we can not have friendly competition in some aspects to the betterment of our community as a whole. d might point out that our two cities, and the county are working more harmoniously together today than ever befote.and this relationship. T kn iw_ will Prim my part, nor will there be. "7. Touched on in the news story was the need for an ad- ditional newspaper (a (pm- petitive, daily) in our com- munity. I strongly believe that we need such, and I will expend efforts toward this end. And,' I .might add that, in this thinking, I am not alone, in the Bryan - College Station Com- munity. "S. Finally, I wisp to say that with this letter my public ut- terance on the issue comes to' a close. Let peace and harmony, prevail in our community. Lets all work together toward this goal." The letter was dated March 29.