OTTAWA — The Franklin County Commission made an adjustment to the tourism bureau – it’s now abolished. The action was the final step in separating what was the Franklin County Convention and Tourism Bureau from the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce. Last week, commissioners ratified a proposal drawn up by the two organizations to spin off tourism efforts and they signed deal with the tourism board, which is now an independent non-profit group, to handle tourism efforts for the county. A county-wide motel bed tax is funneled to the tourism board for promotion and tourism efforts. Wednesday’s vote formally ended the former Convention and Tourism structure. Commissioners said the change would simplify and better focus tourism efforts.
