The Lake Barkley Tourism Commission will move forward in the face of large financial losses after the unexpected exit of one of its three member communities. The Kuttawa City Council voted 3 to 2 a resolution to leave the commission, which consisted of Kuttawa, Eddyville, and Lyon County.
Commission board member Andrea York says the tourism commission will lose income generated from Kuttawa’s restaurant tax.
“If Kuttawa does pull out obviously it will affect how we can promote our area. But we will all still work to make tourism a viable entity in our area and continue to move it forward.”
York says she is unsure why the city is dropping out, but the commission will amend their budget for the income shortfall.
County Judge Executive Wade White says he's also confused as to why Kuttawa is dropping out of the commission.
“They had talked about it back before Christmas and we thought we had resolved those issues. No, it was a surprise that it was back on the agenda and it was really a surprise that it passed. I didn’t think it would.”
White says tourism is an economic driver in the region and the issue is too important for the commission to fracture. He hopes Kuttawa reconsiders its decision.
