slideshow

Joe P. Asher

Staff Writer

The Tri-Cities Trail Town Committee on Wednesday considered the possibility of hiring an administrator to handle day to day operations necessary to achieve trail town status.

Chairman Cleon Cornett suggested the committee hire a professional grant writer.

“What do you guys think of hiring a professional or semi-professional person to help us with this? I was thinking we could look at this and decide next month, but it would help us get a leg up if we go ahead and decide this is the approach we want to take,” said Cornett.

Cumberland Mayor Carl Hatfield noted hiring an administrator could be beneficial.

“I think it would pay for itself — if you did do it that way — in time and efficiency, if you could find someone qualified,” said Hatfield.

Committee member Jeremy Williams said there are qualified people available.

“There are people out there,” said Williams. “I can think of two people in the region — one fairly close — that we could possibly hire.”

Williams informed the committee it is not necessary to have money up front.

“A lot of times what those grant writers do — if the grant allows it — they put their fee in there as a percentage in that grant,” said Williams. “So if you’re the grant writer and you receive that grant you say ‘I’m going to take 10 percent or five percent’ and that’s your fee. If you don’t get the grant, you’re just out.”

Williams noted there are grants available to pay administrative fees.

Committee member Bobbie Gothard said the committee would have to choose an administrator carefully.

“I think our challenge is going to be finding a person who’s dedicated to do a project like this,” said Gothard. “You might find somebody who’s interested in biking, but then you’ve got the horseback riding that they may not be interested in. I guess we will just have to try it and see.”

Cornett explained there is no other funding for the project.

“There’s no funding available until we get the grant, but we feel pretty confident that we can get the grant,” said Cornett.

The committee decided to do further research before making a final decision.

Reach Joe P. Asher at 606-572-4510 or jasher@heartlandpublications.com