Town-County Liaison Committee Takes Decisive Steps on Tourism

“This is what I had been hoping for,” said Mayor Lori Cockrell at the April 16 Town-County liaison committee meeting, where topics ranged from tourism to a septic fee update. The mayor, accompanied by Town Manager Joseph Petty and Councilman Glenn Wood, expressed her relief to supervisors Cheryl Cullers and Hugh Henry and Interim County Administrator Dr. J. David Martin that they are ready to direct staff, respectively, to start conversations on tourism collaboration. The Town’s hope at previous liaison meetings had been that those conversations would commence. One might imagine that the County was not comfortable committing its staff to such a dialogue before making its own preparations. One might imagine again that those preparations have been made, and the County staff are now ready to engage with the Town staff.

Representatives of Town and County held a liaison meeting on April 16. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh

The issue was never a lack of interest. The question was simply: “How?” With an absolute vacancy in personnel for tourism, much of the responsibility for whatever the County does undertake in the interest of tourism has fallen to Deputy County Administrator Jane Meadows, as what she humorously calls a part-time job. But Dr. Martin indicated that they are financially prepared to move forward with filling that vacancy and would even be open to financially supporting the Town’s efforts to whatever extent they can.

The focus on filling the vacancy is important, although what must be acknowledged is the thriving tourism committee composed of volunteers who are so passionate about the location that they engage in the work for its own sake. But as much as those contributions have been meaningful, robust administration is still desirable, and it came as a relief to the Town that the County is serious about employing somebody in that capacity.

Thus, staff will talk, as Town and County arrange a joint meeting in June, sooner than they would normally hold it. This proactive planning will suit Dr. Martin’s wish to see this item come to fruition before his service as interim administrator ends. The role the Town has played steadfastly under Tourism Director Lizi Lewis may be shared again by the County in a more official capacity.

Following this was a discussion about economic development. Cockrell expressed a sentiment that Cullers echoed about the need to move on from the past, underscoring the trauma surrounding a former EDA executive director who was disgraced for embezzlement. To what extent the Town and County will resume the economic development collaboration they had in the past is the pressing question of the hour. Cockrell admitted that she does not know what that will look like, and certainly nobody on the County side offered any pat solution. It was merely affirmed that the interest in collaboration here, like the one with tourism, is real.

Because of outdated software, the County’s fiscal impact model does not reflect the data needed to provide developers with accurate readings on what their proffers should be. This is of particular concern to the school system, which is faced with the necessity of accommodating the children that new developments bring into the community, and that challenge is a substantial pie slice of the data developers need to consider as they prepare their proffers. At the meeting, the County affirmed that they are aware of the problem with the outdated model and are taking steps to address it.

The committee heard from the Joint Towing Advisory Board members Michael Glavis and Gloria Knott. Glavis is the chairman of the board and works for the Sheriff’s Office, while Knott is associated with Keen’s Towing. With board terms expiring on August 31, Glavis and Knott came before the committee with several procedural questions. Who contacts the board members to determine who wants to continue to serve? Who places a notice for openings if needed? Who accepts applications, if any, and sets up interviews? The presentation also touched on the need to collect payment for services rendered, a role that Glavis felt would be more appropriate for a Town or County treasurer, not the board itself. He also mentioned the advisability of appointing a citizen representative to the board. Keeping the process competitive is also a concern, and questions were raised about how to handle the rotation of service providers. All the above will hopefully have answers by the June meeting, and Petty expressed his willingness to collaborate with Glavis.

The reassessment process for 2027 received attention before the meeting closed, with notice from the Town that the septic haul rate will be the subject of a public hearing on April 27. If the ordinance passes, the rate will increase by 2.25% from $29.28 to $29.94 per 1,000 gallons. The change would be effective July 1. Henry suggested measuring the haul in 500-gallon increments while charging the same rate, which would be more equitable if a hauler exceeds the threshold by a minimal amount.

With enthusiasm for a productive meeting expressed around the table, the meeting was adjourned.

Watch the April 16, 2026, Town / County Liaison Committee