Warrior’s Path State Park, Bristol Motor Speedway, Historic Downtown Blountville, and Rocky Mount Living History Museum are but a few attractions for visitors to Sullivan County, Tenn.
Sure it’s plenty to see, but is it enough to justify a tourism office that costs taxpayers more than $50,000 per year?
County Mayor Steve Godsey doesn’t think so.
He terminated Tourism Director Krisna Goodwin late Tuesday afternoon and plans to cut funding for the county’s full-time director of tourism position from next year’s budget.
"We just really don’t have enough to promote in the county for a full-time tourism director," said Godsey, who called Goodwin a "very capable and good individual."
Former County Mayor Richard Venable created the county’s full-time tourism director position in March 2005 and budgeted $52,000 for the office. He then hired Goodwin to fill the post in January 2006.
Accounts and Budgets Director Larry Bailey said funding for the director of tourism office grew to $58,862 in 2006 and $63,326 in 2007. Most of this money went to pay Goodwin’s $38,000 salary and benefits, which Bailey estimated came to a total of $50,000 this year.
Godsey said he had noticed the budget line item and discussed cutting the position with several county commissioners and other officials for the past several months.
He also said Goodwin’s position wasn’t necessary because three other organizations – the Bristol Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Kingsport Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Northeast Tennessee Tourism Authority – already promote tourism in Sullivan County.
"It was just time to go ahead [and cut the position]," Godsey said, adding he may consider bringing in a part-time director of tourism.
Goodwin did not want to comment for this story, saying she wanted to talk with a lawyer about her termination before making any public statements.
gmclean@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2518
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