Due to recent events I felt I would prepare this statement to ensure my beliefs are clear.
Earlier this year the Columbia City Council passed a measure to explore a possible sports complex for our community and to see if the Columbia-Adair County Economic Development Board would be willing to donate land in the Commerce Park on North Highway 55 to the City of Columbia.
The city has received numerous requests and comments about a cloverleaf field for baseball and softball, an indoor training facility, and a soccer field. As a result, I in my official capacity as mayor sent a written request to the Columbia Adair County Economic Development Board to see if land could be procured in their commerce park.
The Economic Development Board brought up this request at their March 18 meeting and it was denied. Chairman Larry Walker brought a written response to City Hall and it read as follows:
“Your letter was read to the members of the Columbia-Adair County Economic Development Commission on March 18, 2026. Discussion was held regarding your inquiry and the purposes of the Green River Commerce Park and the work that the authority has done over the years in getting the infrastructure in place to make our property marketable to industrial prospects. It was the consensus that we support your efforts to bring such a facility to the community but are not in favor of such a facility being in the industrial park. Doing so would also be contrary to the industrial authority and contrary to the intent of the Kentucky Product Development Initiative and the RDAAP programs, which have funded a large portion of our infrastructure improvements . A motion was made and passed to table your request.”
Larry and I had a respectful meeting where I told him we would look in a different direction.
The Economic Development Authority met again last week on Wednesday and the following day someone informed me that they had posted online that they would be having a special called meeting to discuss a sports complex on Thursday of this week.
In the meantime, Adair County Judge Executive Larry R. Bryant has posted online that he originally wanted a sports complex months ago at the Jim Blair Center.
Regardless of who wants the sports complex, it is a good thing for our community. I had already done the appropriate research for the initial funding for the project. I am now learning that the restaurant tax, which I have been opposed to and have been vocal about, is being discussed again as a way of funding this project.
Let me be clear, I have never, and will never undertake decisions that I believe are contrary to the best interests of the City of Columbia and its citizens. Supporting a proposed tax such as the one in question would be exactly such a decision.
A restaurant tax would raise the cost of dining in Columbia, hinder development of future restaurants, and hurt the business of those that are already in place. As the elected mayor of Columbia, I believe it is my duty to look out for and protect our citizens and businesses, this tax would raise the cost of living along with negatively impacting our local food service industry in a way that could mean job loss for Columbia. My opinion on a proposed restaurant tax is not only based on my years of restaurant recruitment work as Mayor but is also a view constructed from what I have heard from local restaurant owners and managers in Columbia.
Accordingly, I would be staunchly opposed to the taxing of those in our community in yet another way while many are struggling to make ends meet as it is.
While I was exploring the possible development of a Sports Complex, I was looking at other funding methods that did not include raising taxes on Columbia residents. I would invite those currently reviewing this project to do the same, in order to best ensure no one is harmed by the development of what should be a good thing for our community.
If the Economic Development Authority or the Adair County Fiscal Court would like to do this project, I would be delighted to have it in our community, but it must not come at the expense of the further taxation of our citizens.
s/Mayor Pamela Hoots
