On Monday, members of the Selma Quarterback Club appeared before the Public Buildings Committee, chaired by Selma City Councilwoman Jannie Thomas, in pursuit of relief from the fees to be accrued from hosting seven events this fall at the Selma Convention Center.

According to Selma Quarterback Club Captain Bob Frazer, the club paid $300 to rent the facility last year, but a $200 increase in the rental price since last year – based on a fee schedule that Thomas said was drafted by Selma Mayor Darrio Melton – along with the requirement that the club hire its own security and cover the cost of set up, breakdown and clean up, makes the cost of using the space significantly more expensive.

The club asked the committee to consider allowing it to use the space at last year’s cost, considering the number of contributions it makes to Selma and Dallas County each year, including providing five area students with $4,000 scholarships and an endowment scholarship created by the University of Alabama and Auburn University.

“We know what the Quarterback Club does for Selma,” Thomas said later. “This club does a lot, they contribute.”

Thomas noted the slate of personalities scheduled to appear at the convention center this year at the club’s invitation, including Auburn University Athletic Director Allen Greene, Troy University Head Coach Chip Lindsey, former University of Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson, CBS Sports’ Jill Arrington and others.

Thomas and Selma City Councilwoman Angela Benjamin, also a member of the committee, supported the club’s request – Selma City Councilman Michael Johnson, also a member of the committee, was not present for the meeting.

“We’re trying to keep Selma alive,” Thomas said. “I’m willing to work with anyone – the mayor, anybody to keep the city going.”

Also during the meeting, Thomas indicated that she has a list of building repair and maintenance requests to be submitted to Melton for approval, including a broken ice machine at the convention center and issues concerning the use of projectors and microphones.

Additionally, Thomas noted that work at the Dallas Academy Building still has not been completed and the inability of multiple public buildings to take rental requests is causing the city to lose possible revenue.

As far as the Dallas Academy building is concerned, Thomas is still trying to get flooring work completed and plans to bring a proposal before the council next week to approve additional funds to install air conditioning units and place cages around them.

“The City of Selma has had a lot of burglaries at its city buildings,” Thomas said. “We’re just trying to be good stewards and protect the city’s properties.”

Thomas also plans to discuss the following issues with city attorney Woodruff Jones:

• contracting to reopen the Selma Welcome Center

• a resolution for public building keys and locks

• contracting for cleaning buildings and covering the cost of small repairs

• contracting to “beautify” Selma City Hall

“We have to get this city back on the right track,” Thomas said.