What might have seemed like a routine approval of a contract for operating two visitors’ centers gave the Calvert County Commissioners a reason to pause and mull over the cost-effectiveness of such a service. During their Tuesday, June 17 meeting the board considered proposals for the continued operation of the centers in Owings—at the Fairview Library on southbound Route 4—and Solomons—adjacent to the base of the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge. Two vendors responded to county government’s request for proposal (RFP) for the operation of the centers in fiscal year (FY) 2015.
According to Department of Economic Development Director Linda Vassallo, the proposals were submitted by the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce and 568 Ventures. Both exceeded the current vendor contract of $106,645 and the $110,000 budgeted for FY2015. Vassallo stated that county government’s proposal review team determined the Calvert Chamber’s proposal met all requirements and possessed the best operating experience.
However, research done by county government staff determined that over the past decade visitation has steadily declined at both locations.
“We believe the visitation has shown steady declines due to readily available information online and improvements with outreach efforts,” Vassallo stated in a memo to the commissioners. “At a minimum, I recommend realignment of the Fairview Center from a staffed to an unstaffed center.”
County government staff presented the commissioners with four options, including no change and the unstaffed Fairview Visitors’ Center. Since the proposal submitted by the vendors required itemization, staff was able to determine that that option could be funded by the amount budgeted. The third option called for no staffing at Fairview and only contracting for the Solomons Center’s operation for one year. A fourth option suggested “repurposing” both facilities.
Commissioner Susan Shaw [R] made the motion to accept option three and a portion of option four, stating she didn’t want to close the Solomons center but only leave it open for one year and allow staff to conduct further research on more cost-effective ways to promulgate tourist information.
“Why would we not treat them both as the same?” Commissioner Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R] asked. Slaughenhoupt indicated that since both facilities were showing declining numbers, making changes involving both would be a more cost-effective strategy. He suggested the county enlist staff at Calvert Marine Museum for the purpose of providing visitor information.
“Fairview has never been a good location for a visitors’ center,” Commissioners’ President Pat Nutter opined. Nutter explained motorists unfamiliar with the county often drive by Fairview without realizing that, in addition to a library branch, it houses a visitors’ center.
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