By Tom Davis
Correspondent
DAYTON, Tenn. — Rhea County commissioners are questioning the effectiveness of the Rhea Economic and Tourism Council’s industrial recruiting efforts.
One commissioner called this week for the council to replace its executive director.
“A lot of people are asking, ‘What is the [economic and tourism council] doing to bring jobs to Rhea County?’ The answer is, ‘I don’t know,'” Commissioner Tracy Taylor said Tuesday during the commission’s workshop session.
Commissioner Tommy Smith took it a step further.
“I think they need to work hard on replacing [Executive Director] Raymond Walker for our future,” he said.
Walker was invited to the Tuesday commission meeting, but Commissioner Bill Hollin said Walker was unable to attend because of recent surgery.
At a called meeting of the Economic and Tourism Council on Wednesday, Walker said he was “proud of my leadership” since taking the position six years ago.
Graysville Mayor Ted Doss, who attended both the economic council and the commission meetings, said there were “many new commissioners” at Tuesday’s meeting who don’t know what the council does.
In November, newcomers Ron Masterson, Jim Reed and Grover Parks were elected to the commission.
Economic council members said they were asked by the commissioners to attend January’s meeting to discuss the council’s function and prospects for new industry in Rhea County.
County Executive George Thacker reminded commissioners Tuesday that “we ran to try to attract jobs. We’ve got to do something to attract jobs.”
Hollin, who spent 10 years as the Economic and Tourism Council’s director, said he talked with Walker last week and was told that he “had 12 prospects on his desk.”
But Walker pointed out there are no publicly owned properties in the county with current environmental and subsurface reports, which are essential if companies are going to consider undeveloped property, Hollin said.
Thacker said Southeast Development District officials have offered to assist the county in the recruitment and grant process.
Taylor said that, in his four years on the commission, Tuesday was the first time he had heard about industrial prospects.
Hollin offered to introduce a new recruiter to contacts he has maintained, but he pointed out that to adequately fund such as position would take between $160,000 and $200,000 per year.
Officials said the county now contributes $75,000 per year and the City of Dayton gives $30,000 to the Economic and Tourism Council.
Tom Davis is based in Dayton. Contact him at tsdavis@volstate.net.