Town Council Arrives at Consensus on Joint Tourism Agreement with the County

A high-stakes work session of the Town Council on November 9 covered a wide variety of business items, including the possibility that two new centrifuges housed in a building to be constructed for that purpose might replace the less effective process represented by the rotary fan press currently being used for dewatering, in which liquids are separated from solids. While this acquisition indicates a significant financial investment, it could save the Town as much as $100,000 per year. Also, the council heard from Warren County Economic Development Director Patrick Barker about six target industries the Board of Supervisors has embraced, inviting the Town to do the same. Last, the council added an item at the beginning of the meeting concerning the much-discussed and revised Town-County joint tourism agreement.

The Town Council met for a work session on November 9. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh

“Since 1993,” reads the MOU draft considered by the council on the 9^th, “the Town has been primarily responsible for tourism promotion and the operation of the Visitor’s Center. Following the County’s 2017 increase in its Transient Occupancy Tax from 2 percent to 5 percent, the Parties jointly administered a tourism marketing function from 2021 through 2023. Since July 1, 2023, the Town and County have administered separate tourism functions. The Parties now enter into this Agreement to establish a structured, accountable model for renewed collaboration.”

CHA consultant Stevie Steele presented ongoing water and septic concerns to the council, including the urgent need for a centrifuge to replace the rotary fan press.

If enacted by January 1, 2027, the agreement will remain in effect through June 30, 2028, and for that duration the County shall allocate $212,000 to the Town for tourism for each fiscal year 2026/2027 and 2027/2028, respectively.

Finance Director B.J. Wilson handled a variety of items, many of which pertained to the centrifuge project.

Much of the draft’s language focuses on distinct but complementary roles, with the Town as the lead for destination marketing and the County as the lead for destination development. Amid phrases like “advertising campaign” for the Town and “infrastructure planning” for the County, one might interpret the Town as an agent and the County as a steward. Perhaps the Town initially resisted this distinction because it saw itself as both. However, at the work session on the 9^th, the council seemed to have reached a place of concession, where nothing in the draft was so alarming that it could not be accepted. A few finer points were raised about appointing members for the joint tourism advisory committee, but even that was not a sword on which to die.

Warren County Economic Development Director Patrick Barker presented to the council six target industries for a resolution to be transacted at the next regular meeting.

In its current form, the agreement does not prevent either party from acting as a distinct governmental body in ways that incidentally advance tourism interests; it only prevents either party from establishing a separate tourism program that duplicates efforts without written consent from both parties. Either party may withdraw without cause upon not less than 30 days’ written notice. Pending final communications with the County, the agreement is proceeding with an effective start date of January 1.