Park City Tourism Committee members begin trying to reconcile the city commission's motion to begin steps to dissolve the tourism body.
A volatile meeting unfolded Monday, May 20th in Park City, as representatives from the community gathered to discuss a contentious motion put forth by the Park City Commission to take steps to begin dissolving the city’s tourism board.
This exchange seemed to embody the spirit of the meeting, as the board attempted to reconcile with the commissioner’s decision.
Tourism’s Board Chair Eric Helton brought before the board a notice he received from the city on May 9th; while not going into the details of the letter, he raised two points in regard to the city’s request.
Director over tourism, Linda Watts responded to notice with a letter of her own.
The central point of contention stemmed from a decision made at a special called meeting of the Park City Commissioner’s, which cited a significant lack of transparency between the quasi-governmental tourism board and the city as the primary reason for considering its dissolution. This motion was passed with a 4-1 vote by city commissioners. As is often the case when entities discuss personnel matters the meeting was held in closed session per KRS 61.810.
Joe Bailey, one of the several newly appointed board members questioned Watts on its role within the city, particularly in regard to tourism’s fiscal plans.
WCLU spoke to Mayor Larry Poteet for a summary on why the city felt that the tourism commission was not meeting expectations.
Poteet also pointed to a lack of communication with Park City Tourism and the other tourism entities in Barren County.
Bailey, who is a relatively fresh face on the tourism commission, with his first meeting held in February, brings a wealth of experience from serving on the Caveland Environmental Authority for several years.
Speaking with WCLU after the meeting Bailey emphasized his desire for tourism to reflect a united front in Barren County.
This proposal received mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a constructive step forward, while others remained skeptical about its potential effectiveness.
The Park City Commission’s motion to dissolve the tourism board has undoubtedly sparked a significant debate about governance, accountability, and the future of tourism in Park City. As the situation continues to evolve, the community will be closely watching the developments and hoping for a resolution that balances transparency with the need to sustain and grow local tourism efforts.