The Jasper City Council voted on Wednesday evening to quit funding the Jasper Lakes Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce and to instead use that money for the creation of a new tourism department.

City leaders explained that the measure would not shut down or eliminate the

Chamber of Commerce but require it to operate on it's own, depending on the dues paid by members and other events to raise money for operation.

Upon until now the city was handing $61,000 in funding to the chamber each year. In addition, plans are to locate the new department in the historic Beatty-Orton Home at the intersection of Main and Water Streets, next to the Jasper Public Library.

The decision to end the city's funding of the Chamber of Commerce apparently comes following the reports or allegations earlier t

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