By Larry Tucker
Wood County Monitor
Quitman Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Megan Whitworth has taken on two additional roles with the city, serving as communications director and assistant director of the Quitman Development Corporation.
City Administrator Allan Gilbert appointed Whitworth to the additional positions. She received a raise with the added duties and will earn $58,000 annually.
Whitworth updated the QDC board last Monday on chamber activities, including efforts to increase community engagement, attract new members and work with other organizations in Wood County.
“We have some exciting things going on in Quitman. We are having so much fun. We had a morning coffee when I first got here and it was a success. Everyone here is so positive and we will have another one in October. We are looking at doing a ‘Lunch and Learn’ where people can come and have a box lunch and spend that hour with us,” Whitworth said.
Several businesses have joined the chamber since Whitworth began in the position in late May. She also reported increased activity on the chamber’s Facebook page.
“In 28 days we had 41,000 views. We have had fun making live presentations on Facebook. We do our best to make it worth watching,” Whitworth said.
Whitworth said the chamber recently held its second Red Carpet Salute, recognizing the first anniversary of Sheshedz. She said chamber representatives have also met with representatives from elsewhere in the county.
“They were so pumped for us to be there,” Whitworth said. “We have been able to meet with other representatives from the county and from Winnsboro and Mineola and discussed working together and how we all need to work together to make Wood County even better.”
Whitworth also announced that Hometown Christmas will be held the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Gilbert said cooperation among the city, QDC and chamber could benefit Quitman, including by reaching chamber members and businesses outside the city limits.
“We have a lot of chamber members just outside the city limits that are very important to us. I believe if we can get them traveling through town on the way where they are going to stop it will be good for our city. The QDC’s generosity to the city and chamber teaming together will help us be successful,” Gilbert said.
QDC Board President Kevan Burroughs also addressed cooperation among the organizations and Whitworth’s work with the chamber.
“I do think there is some leverage there where the QDC, the chamber and the city all come together. It needs to be communicated over and over for a while. There was an opinion as to whether or not the chamber would even be here, but kudos to you, Megan, for your consistency and follow-through. Thank you for taking the initiative, for being a self-starter,” Burroughs said.
In other business, the board discussed a property on Clark Street, just south of the Wood County Appraisal District office. According to the discussion, the owner had previously agreed to make improvements to the property but had not completed them. The property has previously been used as a hotel, boarding house and residence.
Board member and City Alderman Brad Medlin said the property owner had not completed the work as agreed.
“I think it’s time we do what we basically did with the Towner Motel property. We need to go ahead and get it down. Would that be a property the QDC would be interested in buying? The owner is a year past getting improvements done,” Medlin said.
The board took no action on the property.
The board also briefly discussed an updated policy concerning downtown sidewalk and facade grants. Burroughs asked members to review the proposed policy before considering its adoption at the next meeting. No action was taken.