Owners of attractions say a divided Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau board is hurting business.

&#8220I think we just need some unity,” said Colleen Small, owner of Cedar Grove Mansion Inn & Andre’s Restaurant at 2200 Oak St., one of the city’s largest antebellum bed and breakfast and tour homes.

The VCVB board of directors entered a seven-month search for a new executive director after the April death of Emy Wilkinson, who had served as director of the tourism development agency for a year.

Then, on 6-4 and 5-4 votes in December, the board decided to move ahead with a 45-day temporary contract with Compass Facility Management to begin the transition phase for the company to take over the executive director position.

Compass has a five-year contract with the city to operate the Vicksburg Convention Center and Vicksburg Auditorium. It expires in September.

Although the VCVB was created by the Legislature in 1972 as a freestanding agency with its own revenue, the issue has become political. Mayor Laurence Leyens suggested hiring Compass for the position. State Rep. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg, has filed a request for an attorney general’s opinion on the decision to hire Compass, saying he does not think the founding legislation allowed such a change.

The situation has also become racial. Clara Ross Stamps, interim director, was a candidate for director. Stamps is black, and the four black members of the VCVB board supported her for the promotion.

Small and Mary Lee, owner of Belle of the Bends Bed & Breakfast at 508 Klein St., both said they are not involved in the politics, they just want to see an organized effort to market Vicksburg.

&#8220Why hasn’t there been a director chosen?” said Lee. &#8220It’s dissension and disagreement amongst the board members.”

Carolyn Bakarich, curator of the Yesterday’s Children Antique Doll and Toy Museum, 1104 Washington St., said the VCVB needs direction.

&#8220They’re the glue that holds us together, but since Emy’s death there doesn’t seem to be the cohesion there was in the past,” Bakarich said.

Tillman Whitley, curator of Jacqueline House African-American Museum, 1325 Main St., said he thinks African-American tourists have been largely ignored by the VCVB. He said he’d like to see the VCVB advertise in magazines directed to black readers.

&#8220I’ve always felt the African-American history here was neglected,” he said. &#8220We’re taxpayers, too. I would like them to know we are interested in tourism in Vicksburg and tourism brings in the dollars and it would, even more, if they would get more aspects of the community involved.”

Whitley said he expects his tax dollars to assist the VCVB marketing efforts, but has not seen anything to show for the dollars going into the bureau.

&#8220We do a great service for the city,” Whitley said. &#8220They may not be able to give us any money from the budget, but they never help us with our brochures.”

Small also said she has not seen where her tax dollars have gone toward effective marketing efforts.

&#8220We do need someone to help us market,” she said.

The VCVB, funded by a 1 percent countywide tax added to room rentals, restaurant meals and bar tabs, was created to recruit and coordinate tours, advertise local attractions, operate welcome centers and conduct other development projects. It was the first such agency of its type in the state, and its budget has grown from as little as $40,000 per year to $1 million or more.

Small said she thinks it’s important that the VCVB has strong leadership to help unify the community’s efforts.

Lee said there are several things the VCVB could do to help local businesses attract customers.

&#8220I look at Vicksburg as an undiscovered jewel with a huge amount of potential,” Lee said.

For example, she said it would be beneficial to business if the VCVB office opened on Saturdays.

&#8220Close on Monday and open on Saturday, that’s what needs to be done,” Lee said.

Lee said it is also difficult to find things for tourists to do on Sundays, because everything is closed.

&#8220People will leave here and remember ‘we were here on Sunday and there was nothing to do,” Lee said. &#8220Maybe we need to rethink our strategy.”