Tom Pitts has resigned as president of the Camp Verde Chamber of Commerce.
Pitts made the announcement at a recent Camp Verde Town Council meeting.
Pitts had been working to reboot the chamber of commerce since early this year, after a few years of turmoil and reorganization within the group.
Pitts cited medical issues, a knee surgery, as one of the reasons he’s stepping down from the post.
“It’s going to take some time and energy out of some of the things I’m doing,” Pitts said.
Currently, Pitts also works with the Arizona Association of Economic Development, a group that pushes for improving the economy around the state.
Putting together a rural economic development roundtable discussion in Payson is one of his latest projects, Pitts said.
Pitts works with the association particularly when it comes to rural economic issues.
“I want to put maximum time into to that and not end up where mobility is an issue,” Pitts said.
Pitts said he was aware of how the “Camp Verde rumor mill” operates and wanted to let the community know that he was still behind the idea of a local chamber of commerce.
“I am still a huge fan and supporter of the idea,” Pitts said. “I still firmly believe the town needs a solid chamber of commerce.”
Pitts, a Camp Verde resident, has long been involved with economic issues around the Verde Valley and the state.
Pitts has headed up the Jerome Chamber of Commerce, has worked on the regional tourism council, local economic organizations and the Verde Valley Wine Consortium, among other groups and organizations.
The chamber has been going through changes over recent years.
The chamber used to be provided several thousand dollars from the Town of Camp Verde and had its own office in a town-owned building, the former site of Custard’s Last Stand on Main Street that today is home to the Verde Valley Archaeology Center.
The Camp Verde Town Council started to question the value the chamber was providing and started to reduce the funding it provided, eventually cutting it off entirely.
The chamber of commerce was initially allowed to operate and share space with the archaeology center until eventually it moved out.
Local businessman Steve Goetting worked to keep the chamber alive in a form and in January of this year, Pitts announced he was starting to work to strengthen the chamber, arguing that there was a void when it came to businesses getting the benefit from a strong chamber.
The current status of the chamber remains somewhat in the air, as far as the Camp Verde Town Council is concerned.
Last week, the council discussed whether it should appoint one of its members to act as a liaison to the chamber of commerce in the wake of Pitts’ resignation.
The council came to a consensus that such an appointment wouldn’t be appropriate right now.
“I think we’re premature in this,” Vice Mayor Bruce George said.
George said he had supported keeping the chamber open in the past but wanted to wait before making someone a liaison.
Councilwoman Jackie Baker agreed.
“I’m a little confused as to why this is even being considered at this point until it is established and we see some really good interest,” Baker said.
Councilman Bradford Gordon said he wasn’t opposed to appointing a member of the council.
“I have no objection, even though we’re on unstable ground at this time,” Gordon said. “At least we’d know where they stand.”
According to the chamber’s website, there are fewer than 10 active members at the moment.
“We had a president resign, we don’t really have anyone appointed, we don’t know where they meet, when they meet, we don’t know where they are,” Councilwoman Jesse Jones-Murdock said. “I would just like to wait.”
Mayor Charlie German said that he felt much more information was needed, including a business plan, finances and the chamber’s business structure.
“I don’t want to give our stamp of approval without knowing what’s going on,” German said.
The Camp Verde Chamber of Commerce was originally incorporated in 1981.
It so far has not filed an annual report for 2015 with the Arizona Corporation Commission.
