The County Board of Supervisors met for the first time in 2008 on Jan. 2, 2008 and discussed tourims projects in Patrick County. (News Report from The Enterprise, January 9, 2008.)
TOURISM PROJECTS
DISCUSSED
The board took no action on Dr. Locke Boyce's recommendation that the positions of tourism director and assistant county administrator be eliminated.
Neither position is currently filled, since Jeannie Frisco, who held both positions, resigned last fall to take a new job in Martinsville.
Boyce said it was his understanding that the county is not required to have a tourism director but is required to allocate funds to tourism.
Patrick Commissioner of Revenue Janet Rorrer said a portion of the county's lodging tax revenues must, by law, be appropriated for tourism.
Tom Rose, economic development coordinator, said the total budget for the office of tourism is $148,000.
Weiss suggested the board wait until the next meeting to get more information on tourism funds.
"We can increase the tax base through tourism," Harris said. She said there are basically two ways to increase revenues--increase the tax base or raise taxes.
"There's a third way," Boyce said, "saving money."
Weiss said the board could probably do more for tourism by redirecting funds to the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce.
"I think the chamber's done a fantastic job," Knight said.
Large said the issue can be revisited as part of the county budget process later this year.
Boyce said there were several projects he thought the board should stop working on and funding.
"The Mayo River Rail Trail I'd like to kill," he said. "The Raven's Den project I'd like to kill."
Harris said a consultant's study had already shown that the Raven's Den project--a proposed facility for showcasing local arts, crafts and culture--was not feasible for the county to pursue.
"There's no sense beating a dead project," Boyce said.
Harris said Boyce's recommendation to turn over the annual Patrick County Covered Bridge Festival to a private organization had already been done. The board voted last fall to let the Woolwine Ruritan Club operate the festival.
But the covered bridges are county-owned state and historic landmarks and can't be given away to a private group, Harris said.
Boyce said he also wanted to see the skateboard park on Commerce Street closed, "no trespassing" signs erected at the site, and the park moved to DeHart Park.
Boyce said the county could be sued for "a tremendous amount of money," which he said would take away funds needed for the school improvement program and a new jail. He said a private organization of skateboard enthusiasts should own and operate the skate park.
"We need more planning and study," Large said. "We don't know now if it's square or round, what the dimensions would be or where it would fit in the existing park."
The former board of supervisors voted late last year to move the skate park to DeHart Park and locate it at the foot of the hill below SunTrust Bank.
Large said he voted against that plan because the recreation committee and Stuart park committee had not been consulted.
"We need to ask Clyde Crissman since he's over recreation and DeHart Park," Weiss said.
Weiss agreed with Boyce that the Commerce Street site is "hazardous" and should be closed and cleaned up immediately.
"We're trying to get the children off the streets," Harris said.
"I'm not against a skate park, but I am against what's down there now," Knight said.
The board voted unanimously to close the skateboard park and put up "no trespassing" signs.
"I hope we can get donations from businesses in Stuart," Boyce said.
Source: The Enterprise, January 9, 2008