Trying to operate while its leader, Bill Stevens, battles personal health concerns, Cadiz-Trigg County Tourism finds itself with many questions to start 2024.
Of top order during Tuesday’s bi-monthly meeting: annual contractual obligations involving expenditures toward advertising.
Cadiz-Trigg County Tourism is legally bound to spend collected county transient taxes and city-wide restaurant taxes, pursuant to KRS, for the purpose of promoting and developing convention and tourist activities and facilities, and little else.
In a review of those costs, Board Chair Deepak Patel and Director of Guest Services Jamie Lewis confirmed an advertising budget of more than $260,000. And of that, more than $20,000 goes toward promoting the annual Trigg County Country Ham Festival, some goes to ads in The Lane Report, there’s a pair of GoCadiz.com boat wraps for local anglers, more than $100,000 is earmarked for magazines, and more than $20,000 is for television.
Matt Ladd, Trigg Schools Director of Operations and board member, asked Lewis if there exists any gauge to determine effective advertising.
Board members seemed to be in unison with the idea of exploring more digital streaming and billboard options, including Ladd, Ashley Joiner, Dustin Gilbert, Lucas Hale and Susan Bryant.
Lewis, however, did urge a little caution — adding there has to be a delicate balance between print spending and other avenues, especially during special events.
Officials indicated they would be seeking advice from regional tourism leaders at a later time.
Furthermore, the 10-year Harper House tax incentive agreement with Cadiz ends in June 2027. Its reparations and conclusion, however, don’t seem clear, and both Lewis and Bryant issued concern.
Kerry Allen, with Cadiz-Trigg Tourism, clarified that the agreement not only requires Harper House maintain a certain amount of employees with a certain amount of operating hours, but also granted a two-thirds tax abatement in the first five years, and refunded “most” of the eatery’s license fees, payroll taxes and property taxes.
In other tourism news:
— Board officials convened for executive, closed session with no action taken at this time. No reason was given, but on the agenda, it was listed as “financials.”
— Lewis said the Cadiz Little River Festival is scheduled for April 20 at West Cadiz Park. More than 60 vendor applications have been sent out to the public, five bands have been scheduled to perform, and the Fishin’ Hole food truck will at least be one of the food trucks. She added that the fall “Food & Music” Festival likely won’t happen in 2024, and the “Friends of Tourism” group is disbanding, due to lack of interest.
— As a representative and treasurer for the “Friends of Lake Barkley State Resort Park,” Deborah Johnson relayed that the group, which often funds the annual fireworks display on July 4, cannot at this time afford the insurance alongside an $8,000 shortcoming for the show this summer.
With time of the essence and no immediate answer, the Commission opted to table this conversation until overtures could be made in other directions, particularly with Cadiz City Council, Trigg County Fiscal Court, and Cadiz-Trigg County Joint Parks & Recreation Commission.
At its core, Ladd said it is a good event for the community.
As general manager of Lake Barkley State Resort Park, Joiner abstained from the tabling, but did say the weekend typically brings in between 2,000 and 4,000 local and regional visitors to the Lodge, the beaches and to Trigg County.
The park, however, isn’t in a position to buy a fireworks show.
