Marietta's hotel operator reimburses city

MARIETTA - A company that runs Marietta&#39;s troubled city-owned hotel and conference center reimbursed the city Friday, but local officials said they were shortchanged. <br> <br> The Marietta Conference Center lost more than $5 million since its 1996 opening. City officials said Sentry Hospitality owed the city $455,795. A year-end audit indicated Sentry overcharged the city for anticipated marketing expenses and operating fees. <br> <br> Sentry, based in New York, paid $189,701. The company issued a statement late Friday saying the amount reflected fees subtracted from the reconciliation payment, including deferred management fees, working capital loans and marketing fees. <br> <br> ``As we have said all along, it has been our intention to abide by our contract with the city and we have done this,&#39;&#39; Sentry president and CEO Mark Magarity said in a statement. <br> <br> Marietta Mayor Bill Dunaway disagreed. <br> <br> ``My position is that it is important to any contract to operate in good faith,&#39;&#39; Dunaway said. ``This was bad faith ... Sentry has not operated in good faith during its entire tenure operating the hotel.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Last month, Sentry announced it would no longer operate a golf resort in Alabama. According to Sentry&#39;s Web site, a resort in Lincolnton, Ga., is scheduled to open in 2004.

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