Melodie Phelps, News Editor
Monticello — With a new television commercial airing in northern markets and a new
brochure and logo, Wayne County's efforts to promote tourism have definitely
expanded in the last few years. The Wayne County Fiscal Court learned more
about the efforts to increase the county's tourism base during their meeting
on Thursday, April 8.
Shannon Hutchinson, with Community Development, made a presentation to
the court regarding these efforts. Hutchinson said that it all began with a
meeting between local community leaders about three years ago. From there,
the work began.
Now, the county has a brochure, which includes a tourism logo, that has
been distributed at boat shows around the country. There is a web presence
at www. heartoflakecumberland.com, and there is a new 30 second television
spot that has aired in the Louisville area and is scheduled to air in
Cincinnati.
Court members viewed the commercial, which specifically promotes Wayne
County. Hutchinson noted that there are print ads scheduled to appear in
Kentucky Monthly and the Lane Report, which is planning to do a story on
Lake Cumberland.
Hutchinson noted that the Monticello-Wayne County Chamber of Commerce
has been a great partner in this effort. He also expressed appreciation to
the local docks who have taken the county's brochures with them to boat
shows.
And he noted that much of this has been accomplished by spending little
local money. Hutchinson explained because of cooperative agreements the
county has gotten about 90 percent of the costs back.
Wayne County Judge-Executive Greg Rankin noted that the county benefits
from money that is spent on the lake. A percent of every dollar spent on
Lake Cumberland in Wayne County comes back the county.
He also noted the county has been able to make these strides in tourism
presence without any additional people added to the county's payroll. Rankin
said that by shifting some duties among personnel his office has been able
to achieve this without any more staff.
District Four Magistrate Richard Munsey asked if it is now possible for
the county to have a booth at the Kentucky State Fair, like other counties
around the state. Hutchinson noted that the county does not have a booth
that can be set up, and they can now work toward that.
Also during the meeting, the county heard recommendations made by the
State Transportation Cabinet for projects that will be funded through the
Rural Secondary Road Program next year.
Wayne County has been allotted approximately $560,000 for road
improvements and an additional $221,495 in flex funding, according to Mark
Foster with the Transportation Cabinet.
State officials have recommended several resurfacing projects,
including: Highway 3106 from its intersection with Highway 1275 to 1808;
Highway 1275 from Beech Valley Road to the intersection with Main Street;
and an additional 4.9 miles KY 167 from the end of new pavement.
Foster noted that the county can make its own recommendations in
writing, but added that final decisions regarding the projects will be made
in Frankfort.
The court opened bids for the cleanup of open dump sites in several
different areas of the county. Bids were received from Bruce's Backhoe
Service, Don's Excavating and Conley Gregory Construction. The court awarded
bids to the low bidder for each individual dump site.
In other action, the court:
€ Agreed to make a $12,000 contribution to the Lake Cumberland Drug
Task Force. That's the same amount the county contributed to the task force
last year.
€ Agreed to purchase a truck for the road department at a cost of
$25,000.
€ Approved the adoption of Summer Shade Lane, located off American
Legion Road, into the county road system.
€ Heard the monthly report from Jailer Ray Upchurch who noted that the
total population at Detention Center is 160, which includes 88 state inmates
and 72 county inmates. For the month of March, the county has billed a total
of $92,889 for housing inmates.
€ Heard a monthly report from Solid Waste Coordinator Tim Bell who noted
that white goods were collected at 83 households last month bringing the
total this year to 175. Recyclables sold last month brought in $4,258.38. He
also noted that Litter Abatement efforts are underway and 79.8 miles of
county roads were cleaned up last month.
€ Heard a monthly report from EMS Director Bubby Corder who noted that
since January the ambulance service has answered a total of 876 calls. The
Kentucky Division of Emergency Management has notified Corder that the
county has been awarded four Integrated Flood Observing and Warning Systems
that will be placed in different areas of the county. The locations will be:
Brammer Hill Ridge, Highway 1275 near Locketts Chapel Church, off Highway
167 on Patton Creek Road, and West KY 92 at Parnell.