Town to step back from manned Visitors Center, plans to launch ‘micro centers’
Morris said that after discussions with other Floyd officials, including the Floyd Tourism Council, and officials from neighboring counties there was a “consistent agreement” that Floyd should move away from having a manned center.
Floyd Town Council members agreed last week to change how the Visitors Center operates after conversations with officials from the Floyd Chamber of Commerce, Floyd County, and partners across the New River Valley.
Town Manager Andrew Morris told Council at its Oct. 2 meeting that Kathy Fett, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, has been manning the Visitors Center, which is located on the first floor of the Town Offices building on Oxford Street, during her regular work hours.
“It’s tough for her to build the Chamber to what [she and the Board of Directors] really want and have the Visitors Center there as well,” Morris said.
He said that after discussions with other Floyd officials, including the Floyd Tourism Council, and officials from neighboring counties there was a “consistent agreement” that Floyd should move away from having a manned center.
The Town can focus on setting up “micro centers” around the county and town, where both locals and out-of-towners can still find brochures and rack cards, Morris said.
Plus, he added, the area now used as the Visitors Center could be used as a waiting area/meeting space, and Fett’s Chamber office would be relocated upstairs.
Mayor Will Griffin said he was fine with making the change.
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Council also approved moving forward with the WIN Care Loan Pool application and authorized Town officials to complete the agreement.
During his Town Manager’s Report, Morris was directed to facilitate conversations with the neighbors of the portion of Harris Street that the Town plans to abandon as a part of that project, and he reminded Council of the Spooky Street, which is happening on Halloween, and invited them to join staff in handing out candy.
Councilman Paul LeMay asked if the Town was planning to add landscaping/shrubbery around the new Public Works building, which is planned to be built at the rear of the Warren G. Lineberry Park property.
Mayor Griffin said he’s sure the team will “make it presentable,” and Morris said he’d imagined it with some shrubbery and flowers around it.
LeMay suggested that eventually the Town put a rendering of the building up on the website for the public to see, as he’s been asked many times about what the building will look like, he said.
Councilman Chris Bower said he agrees with LeMay. “We’ve got to inform the public, but we’re still in the planning stages,” he said.
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Additionally, Bower noted that two new restaurants are already planned to go back into where Geraldi’s and Parkway Grill were formerly located.
He and Mayor Griffin said one is Big Indian Farm Bakery, which is a regular vendor at the Floyd Farmers Market, and the other, Bower “isn’t too sure about,” he said.
Before adjournment, Mayor Griffin said he recently had a meeting with Little River Supervisor Linda DeVito Kuchenbuch and Indian Valley Supervisor about the Floyd-Floyd County Public Service Authority.
He said the next PSA meeting will be more of a “round table discussion” among members about what sustainability looks like and what the path forward may be.
Floyd-Floyd County PSA meetings are regularly held the second Thursday of each month in the Community Room at the Town Offices building (203 E. Oxford St.) beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The meeting for October, however, will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Room.