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Still question county move Opinions Thursday, 28 January 2010 01:36 We still have a number of reservations about the Osceola County Commission’s decisions to enter into an agreement to purchase a former auto dealership on West U.S. Highway 192 for the Osceola County Veterans Tribute and Museum, now housed at Osceola Square Mall. However, we applaud museum officials for deciding to conduct a feasibility study and develop a more detailed business plan for the possible relocation. The county would use tourist development tax money for the purchase and then spend a yet undetermined amount of money to develop this property for museum use. The county initially would issue bonds to cover purchase and renovation costs – and then use tourist tax funds to service the debt. Remember, this is not a done deal. Our concerns haven’t changed: • We do not believe attendance at the current museum warrants such a large investment or facility. A business plan must outline how the new facility would generate jobs and tourism, and part of that plan would have to show how the museum would wean itself off county and city subsidies. • The museum should consider sharing facilities with some other organization. • And the County Commission, the Tourist Development Council and the Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau still owe us a master plan on how to best use tourist tax revenue to attract overnight visitors. An audit of the bureau several years ago suggested focusing on sports-related development. Taking this property off the tax roll when property tax revenue is falling is not a good idea – especially when Aldi grocery chain officials told us they want the site for a new store. We’ve also been told that a fast-food restaurant chain wants a portion of the property, too. The better plan for the county might be to use tourist tax dollars for a new veterans museum at Osceola Heritage Park or at a different site that the county already owns. Granted, our tourist taxes may be able to service the debt for a new veterans museum at the car dealership, but it’s a question of getting the most bang for the tourist buck. No disrespect to veterans, but we want to see the feasibility study and a better business plan before we can support this purchase whole-heartedly.   Please register or log in to post comments. JComments