Posted on Tue, May. 06, 2008

GULFPORT -- The Harrison County Tourism Commission is knocking but the Mississippi Coast Coliseum Convention Center won't let it in.

Bill Holmes, the coliseum's executive director, told the Harrison County Board of Supervisors on Monday that in order to meet a tight budget many things were cut from the expansion plans, including second-floor offices and meeting space for the tourism commission.

In 2004, the county passed a $68 million bond issue to fund the expansion, but after Hurricane Katrina, prices jumped and suddenly the expansion was about $13 million over budget.

To trim costs, the Coliseum deleted the second floor from the plans, but a shell of the second floor had to remain because some of the walls and beams were needed to support the rest of the structure.

"We do want (the tourism commission) in there, but we have to find the best solution," Holmes said. "It's all about the money."

The Board of Supervisors told Holmes to put the second floor back into the plans and include the tourism offices.

However, of the $68 million only about $497,000 is available. By the most conservative estimates, officials at the meeting said the Coliseum would need at least an additional $2 million to add office space to the second floor.

"It was our understanding there would be meeting rooms and office space on the second floor in the front part of the lobby," said Rip Daniels, a tourism commissioner. "We're baffled as to why we are here visiting this again."

Supervisors William Martin and Marlin Ladner said the county could face much higher cost in the future if it has to build or rent separate offices for the commission. The commission currently occupies offices on Seaway Road.

So who will pay for the office space?

Hugh Keating, the tourism commission's attorney, said the commission should not be saddled with the additional cost, which was originally included in the bond issue.

"There is a synergy that exists between (the tourism commission and the Coliseum); they work well together," Keating said.

Together, those two groups and the county will now be in search of additional money to finish the expansion.

Holmes