Commission considers contribution to new community app, forms event committees and updates on concerts and pool staffing

The Leitchfield Tourism and Convention Commission discussed several operational items including a proposed contribution to a new citywide community app, the formation of two committees to plan events and budgets, corrections to the summer concert lineup, and a report that lifeguard recruitment has reached sufficient levels for summer operations.

Tiffany Decker, a visitor and concert organizer, thanked the commission for prior sponsorship and announced the HeadHunters will perform June 1 at Valley Park. "Tickets can be purchased on the Grayson County tourism page for $30; they will be $40 at the gate," she said and presented a $10,000 sponsorship check to the commission.

Staff updated commissioners on a city-purchased community app. Elsa said the prorated cost to get the city through June was about $3,671 and that the full-year price is roughly $9,400. Commissioners debated whether the commission should contribute; suggested contribution figures ranged from a token $500 to a larger amount. No one made a one-time appropriation at the meeting; Elsa and Sabrina agreed to propose a specific contribution for inclusion in the next fiscal-year budget and present it to the commission for approval.

On operations, Tammy reported that if all trainees pass, the parks department will have 29 lifeguards plus a lead lifeguard (30 total), which exceeds the department’s minimum staffing need of 25 for pool operations.

The commission also corrected concert scheduling: Guy Penrod is set for June 7 and Gold City will perform Aug. 2. Commissioners agreed to form an East Main Market committee (Carla, Angie and Anthony were named) to explore sponsorship and programming, and a budget committee (Kelly, Lindel and Joyce) to develop funding proposals. Members were reminded that committee meetings must provide 24-hour public notice if a quorum is present.

Staff also announced local grant applications for fiscal year 2024–25 are open through the end of April, City Cleanup Day is April 6 beginning at 8 a.m., Jimmy John’s will hold a ribbon-cutting on April 9, and the restaurant Stak and Stone is expected to open in April.

Next steps: Elsa and Sabrina will draft a recommended contribution amount for the community app to include in the commission’s budget proposal; committees will meet and return recommendations to the full commission.