[VAcourier] Lexington Oks MOC, BUT

[Virginia Division SCV Communication List]

Council OKs Continued Interest In MOC, But ...
By Roberta Anderson
Friday, March 16, 2007 3:14 PM CDT
http://www.thenews-gazette.com/articles/2007/03/16/breaking_news/breaking2.txt 


Lexington City Council came close to squelching the recent excitement 
over the possibility of the Museum of the Confederacy's relocation to 
Lexington.

Council Thursday night voted 4-2 to move forward with an intention to 
continue an interest in investigating the relocation of the museum to 
Lexington. Councilwoman Mimi Elrod and Ron Smith voted against the 
motion, effectively indicating their preference to discontinue all 
discussions with the MOC.

Several of the votes in favor of the motion, including those cast by 
Councilmen Jack Page and Jim Gianniny, were made with reservations. 
Gianniny said he wants to hear citizen input during a public meeting on 
the museum scheduled for Monday evening at Lylburn Downing Middle 
School, before voting on whether Lexington and Rockbridge County should 
submit a proposal to the MOC to move to the historic courthouse. That 
structure will be abandoned in approximately two years when the new 
joint courts facility is completed.

A mini bombshell exploded in the midst of the meeting when Mayor John 
Knapp acknowledged that a letter signed by him and Board of Supervisors 
chairman Carroll Comstock had already been mailed to the MOC confirming 
that the Lexington/Rockbridge area is interested in submitting a 
proposal to the museum. Mayor Knapp said the letter was sent prior to 
Council approval because of a March 15 deadline. He said he signed the 
letter because of earlier indication by Council to continue discussions 
with the MOC.

A major sticking point with Council, in addition to the possible 
tensions within the community due to the presence of the museum, is the 
tax-exempt status for the museum that is being requested by the Regional 
Tourism Board as part of its incentive to bring the museum here. Council 
has traditionally refused tax-exempt status to nonprofit organizations 
because so much of the city is already tax-exempt due of the large 
amount of land owned by the two colleges.

Council will meet again on April 5. However, a quorum is not expected at 
that meeting so any vote on whether Lexington City Council will agree 
with making a formal proposal to the MOC to relocate here will wait 
until a special meeting scheduled for April 12.
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